Peaking into the Why of Pi
UPDATE: This blog post was featured in Episode #017 of #MisterMarxMathAdventures on YouTube.
Catch that latest blog post here: 🔗 https://www.mistermarx.com/blog/mister-marx-math-adventures-017-what-does-pi-equal-how-pi-value-is-derived-pi-demonstrate-pi-value-derived 🔗
Or watch the full episode over on YouTube: 🔗 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghSAORlyewE 🔗
Welcome learners and educators! Today, I want to share one of my favorite animated gifs with you that explains where the mathematical constant, pi, comes from. But before we dive into the gif, let's first try to understand what pi is. The following information is meant to get you thinking about pi, but is not required knowledge for observing and learning from the animated gif.
Pi, represented by the Greek letter π, is a mathematical constant that represents the ratio of a circle's circumference to its diameter. In other words, it's a number that helps us measure and understand circles. The value of pi is approximately 3.14, but it goes on forever in decimal form, making it an irrational number.
Now that you're thinking about π, let's take a look at the animated gif. As you watch it, I encourage you to note what you notice and what you wonder about the animated gif, its components/pieces, and π itself.
Questions to supplement your exploration:
How is π represented in the gif? How is it measured?
How is π represented in the gif? How is it measured?
How does the gif demonstrate the relationship between a circle's circumference and its diameter? What is that relationship?
How does the gif relate to real-world applications of pi, such as in geometry or engineering? Do you know anyone who uses π in their personal work?
I hope this animated gif has sparked your curiosity about π and the importance of this mathematical constant. Congratulations on choosing to take the time today to learn about π! If you have any lingering questions, do not hesitate to reach out!
