Mathematicians have used various methods to calculate pi throughout history from "summary" of A History of [pi] (pi) by Petr Beckmann
Throughout history, mathematicians have been fascinated with the number pi and have dedicated themselves to finding various methods to calculate it. One of the earliest methods can be traced back to the ancient Babylonians, who approximated pi to be around 3.125. Moving forward in time, the ancient Egyptians came up with a slightly more accurate approximation of pi, which they calculated to be around 3.1605. As civilizations advanced, so did the methods used to calculate pi. The ancient Greeks, particularly Archimedes, made significant contributions to the understanding of pi. Archimedes used a geometric approach to calculate pi, inscribing polygons inside and outside a circle to narrow down the value of pi between certain bounds. Through this method, Archimedes was able to approximate pi with more precision, getting closer to the value we know today. In the Middle Ages, mathematicians in the Islamic world further refined the methods for calculating pi. One such mathematician, Al-Khwarizmi, developed a new algorithm for calculating pi that was more efficient than previous methods. This algorithm became the basis for many future pi calculation methods. During the Renaissance, European mathematicians like Ludolph van Ceulen pushed the boundaries of pi calculation even further. Van Ceulen spent a large part of his life calculating pi to an unprecedented number of decimal places using polygons inscribed in a circle. His efforts resulted in the approximation of pi to 35 decimal places, a remarkable achievement for his time. In modern times, with the advent of computers, mathematicians have been able to calculate pi to billions of decimal places. These calculations have not only expanded our understanding of pi but have also pushed the limits of computational power. Despite the advancements in technology, the fascination with pi and the quest for more accurate calculations continue to drive mathematicians to explore new methods and techniques.
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