17914 | He made a molten sea, which was ten cubits across, and thirty cubits round the edge [Anon (Kings)] |
Full Idea: And he made a molten sea, ten cubits from the one brim to the other; it was round all about, and his height was five cubits: and a line of cubits did compass it round about. | |
From: Anon (Kings) (11: Book of Kings 1 [c.550 BCE], 7:23) | |
A reaction: In the sixth century BCE, this appears to give 3 as the value of Pi, though perhaps it shouldn't be taken too literally! |
9648 | π is a 'transcendental' number, because it is not the solution of an equation [Brown,JR] |
Full Idea: The number π is not only irrational, but it is also (unlike √2) a 'transcendental' number, because it is not the solution of an algebraic equation. | |
From: James Robert Brown (Philosophy of Mathematics [1999], Ch.10) | |
A reaction: So is that a superficial property, or a profound one? Answers on a post card. |