[R] Value of 'pi'

[Ravi Varadhan]

`pi' is more than irrational - it is transcendental, which mean it cannot be the zero of a polynomial with integer coefficient.  All transcendentals are irrationals, but not vice-versa.

I have also heard (courtesy: John Nash) that `pi' is the ratio of actual time it takes to complete your thesis to the anticipated time.

I have also heard that March 14 is the official `pi' day in the US (probably not in Indiana!). 

Ravi.

-------------------------------------------------------
Ravi Varadhan, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor,
Division of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology School of Medicine Johns Hopkins University

Ph. (410) 502-2619
email: rvaradhan at jhmi.edu


-----Original Message-----
From: r-help-bounces at r-project.org [mailto:r-help-bounces at r-project.org] On Behalf Of Bentley Coffey
Sent: Monday, May 30, 2011 9:01 PM
To: Vincy Pyne
Cc: r-help at r-project.org
Subject: Re: [R] Value of 'pi'

Pi is an irRATIOnal number, meaning that it is not equal to the ratio of any
integers ("whole numbers"). Hence, 22/7 is ONLY an approximation. The
built-in value for pi in R is also just an approximation (pi has no terminal
digit on the right of the decimal point so any finite number of digits will
just be an approximation). Yet, the built-in value for pi in R is a more
precise approximation, which is usually preferred...
On May 30, 2011 2:02 AM, "Vincy Pyne" <vincy_pyne at yahoo.ca> wrote:
> Dear R helpers,
>
> I have one basic doubt about the value of pi. In school, we have learned
that
>
> pi = 22/7 (which is = 3.142857). However, if I type pi in R, I get pi =
3.141593. So which value of pi should be considered?
>
> Regards
>
> Vincy
>
>
>
>
>
> [[alternative HTML version deleted]]
>
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