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6. Mathematics / A. Nature of Mathematics / 3. Nature of Numbers / n. Pi

[ratio of circumference to diameter of a circle]

2 ideas
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!
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.