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RE: Greeks and pi (Paul E)

🔗Manuel.Op.de.Coul@ezh.nl (Manuel Op de Coul)

3/5/1997 3:23:34 PM
From: PAULE

>This question is prompted by discussions on ancient greek ideas.

>If irrationals were treated differently to rationals, how did the
>ancient Greeks handle Pi?

>lucy

The ancient Greeks were well versed in rational approximations to pi, and
the proof that pi was ultimately irrational was unknown to them.

See "A History of Pi" by Petr Beckmann, which unfortunately has no
discussion of Ramanujan, the greatest pi-man ever.

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