View source for Approximations of pi

Approximations for the mathematical constant [[pi]] (π) in the history of mathematics reached an accuracy within 0.04% of the true value before the beginning of the Common Era ([[Archimedes]]).

== History ==

In [[Chinese mathematics]], this was improved to approximations correct to what corresponds to about seven decimal digits by the 5th century.

Further progress was not made until the 15th century ([[Jamshīd al-Kāshī]]).

Early modern mathematicians reached an accuracy of 35 digits by the beginning of the 17th century ([[Ludolph van Ceulen]]), and 126 digits by the 19th century ([[Jurij Vega]]), surpassing the accuracy required for any conceivable application outside of pure mathematics.

The record of manual approximation of π is held by William Shanks, who calculated 527 digits correctly in the years preceding 1873.

Since the mid 20th century, the approximation of π has been the task of electronic digital computers; as of October 2014, the record is 13.3 trillion digits.

== See also ==

* [[Pi]]

== External links ==

* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Approximations_of_%CF%80 Approximations of π] @ Wikipedia


[[Category:Mathematics]]
[[Category:Pi]]