Showing posts with label We use pi to define circles. Show all posts
Showing posts with label We use pi to define circles. Show all posts

Wednesday, June 19, 2019

What is pi?    

 It's not just a Greek letter. 
Did you know that no matter what size the CIRCLE:

If you divide its Circumference by it's diameter

 you will get pi (3.14),  

 o     O  o     O       

Well how do you find the  CIRCUMFERENCE (C) of a CIRCLE?               (distance around)

       And how do you find the DIAMETER (d)  OF A CIRCLE?                       (distance across)

O

1. fIRST FIND THE DIAMETER:  You need a ruler, and a Circle.  Measure straight across the center of the circle:  that's the diameter


2..  SECOND USE THE CIRCUMFERENCE formula (it works, trust me).


        Circumference = diameter * pi    (C = d * pi)

 Well what is pi?    You tell me!!                                                      (I'm confused)

(pi = 3.14)                                                          IF                                                             

  C = d * pi     [Algebra]  THEN   pi = C/d  (you divided both sides by d)

                             

Try it!!   

     Start Here:
               Measuring across a circle with a ruler-- you get 10 centimeters.     (diameter)
        
                If  you GOOGLE  "pi"    you get  3.1415...
         WE JUST USE  3.14 = pi        OK?


   diameter = 10 centimeters (cm)   and pi = 3.14

C = d* pi
Circumference = diameter * pi

C = 10 cm * 3.14  (do the math)

10 cm * 3.14  =   31.4 cm

     
SO THIS CIRCLE HAS A CIRCUMFERENCE OF 31.4 centimeters (cm)?
YES

 (Why?    because... you need to go back and find out)
          NOW THE FUN STUFF:    
                                     
pi  =  Circumference
                                             diameter                       (YES! see above)

       Three CIRCLES: 

#1. circumference is 6.28 cm  and diameter is  2 cm
                   

               6.28 cm/2cm  = 3.14
 

 
#2. circumference is 18.6 cm  and diameter is   6 cm
                    


                 18.6 cm  = 3.14    
6 cm
   
#3. circumference is  15.5 cm   and diameter is  5 cm
  

                  15.5 cm   = 3.14
   5 cm


 ITS A CIRCLE: 
C = d * pi                   C / d = pi
     
      So, who cares?   Well, this is where they got pi. And it works for any circle.   Pi is called a ratio because ratio means divide and you divide Circumference of a circle by its diameter to get pi.                                
  Image result for circumference formula clipart
                    Voila!     A Ratio         (...and remember, a fraction is just a division problem...)