Pi and the ancient Egyptians
In class we learn that for the ancient Egyptians pi was approximately 3.16. Last semester I did a research paper of geometry before Euclid and learn that we know that Egyptians used pi approximately 3.16 from a geometry problem in the Rhind Papyrus. The problem asked, "A circular field has diameter 9 Khet. What is its area?” (1 khet is 100 cubits). From the solution of this problem is determined that the Egyptians used Π = 3+1/9+1/27+1/81~ 3.1605.
