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Published by: autoSOCRATIC PRESS www.rationalsys.com Copyright 2013 Michael Lee Round All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information storage retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

ARCHIMEDES 287 BC 212 BC 3

HOW BIG IS THIS CIRCLE?

As the diameter increases, so does the circumference (obviously). But whats the relationship between diameter and circumference? Thats the question the great Archimedes set out to answer.

HOWEVER: I forgot to tell you: you can only use a straightedge ruler, and you dont know C 2 r because

hasnt been invented yet!

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The Inner Polygon

Finding the Perimeter
OUR EXAMPLE To Get Something on the Table, lets use a regular hexagon as our example.

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The Outer Polygon

Finding the Perimeter

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An Estimation

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ESTIMATING
The average perimeter of the polygons my estimate of is 6.464? What kind of estimate is this? Where have I gone wrong? I know the formula for the circumference of a circle is: C = 2r Since Im using perimeter in the above calculations, lets use it here, too. And if my assumption was r = 1, I have:

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PUTTING THIS ALL TOGETHER Estimating the Value of

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THE GEOMETRIC MIND

PROBLEMS
The following three problems each have a CHECK (to make sure youve done the problem right). Once youve confirmed youve done the problem right, theres a KEY. The key is necessary to unlock the next installment.

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PROBLEM 1 When 18-sided polygons are used, we get an estimate of . When 36-sided polygons are used, we get a better estimate of . How much better?

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PROBLEM 2 If were using 30-sided polygons to find an estimate of , what is the sin(relevant angle)?

PROBLEM 3 26

What is the least sided-polygon needed to estimate

3.14159?

THE GEOMETRIC MIND 27

CONCEPT CARD

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