We all learned that the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its
diameter is called pi and that the value of this algebraic symbol is
roughly 3.14. What we weren't told, though, is that behind this
seemingly mundane fact is a world of mystery, which has fascinated
mathematicians from ancient times to the present. Simply put, pi is
weird. Mathematicians call it a transcendental number because its value
cannot be calculated by any combination of addition, subtraction,
multiplication, division, and square root extraction. In this delightful
layperson's introduction to one of math's most interesting phenomena,
Drs. Posamentier and Lehmann review pi's history from prebiblical times
to the 21st century, the many amusing and mind-boggling ways of
estimating pi over the centuries, quirky examples of obsessing about pi
(including an attempt to legislate its exact value), and useful
applications of pi in everyday life, including statistics. This
enlightening and stimulating approach to mathematics will entertain lay
readers while improving their mathematical literacy.
