Pure Mathematics Is, in its Own Way, the Poetry of Logical Minds.
22nd July, Pi Approximation Day, is an annual opportunity for math enthusiasts to recite the infinite digits of Pi. Pi is an infinite, non-repeating decimal, meaning that every possible number combination exists somewhere in Pi. Converted into ASCII text, somewhere in that infinite string of digits is the name of every person you have loved or will ever love, the date and time of your death and the answer to all the great questions of the universe. While working on the project, I realized that Pi is different from everything; it’s natural, irrational and still very important. Probably the idea of devising a way to calculate Pi based on probability, occurred to Georges Buffon, by chance. Who could have linked tossing a coin to calculating the value of Pi?
I have often played with toothpicks in my idle hours, not once did it occur to me that these simple toothpicks could be used in the approximation of Pi. Stendhal has rightly said, “Only great minds can afford a simple style.” Geometry was introduced to me in Class IV. I started substituting 22/7 for Pi in Class VI. But never had it occurred to me that this approximation was reached at only after a great deal of mental activity. Pi, a simple concept, means a lot more to me now than just an irrational number.
- Eshita Bathwal (Class-XI B)
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