Math Is Fun Forum

winkylocc

Member

Registered: 2011-07-06

Posts: 6

Inequality

I'v got a problem where its asking rather 3.14 is <, =, or > than π. I thought it would be equal to but the answer in the back claims that it is less than. How so??

bobbym

bumpkin

From: Bumpkinland

Registered: 2009-04-12

Posts: 109,606

Re: Inequality

Hi winkylocc;

Welcome to the forum.

3.14 is only an approximation of pi. It is not exactly pi. Here is a better approximation of pi. 3.14159265... Now you can see that they are right 3.14 is less than pi.

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In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.

winkylocc

Member

Registered: 2011-07-06

Posts: 6

Re: Inequality

So even though they start off as the same, because the closer approximation of pi has more numbers in it, that makes it larger?

bobbym

bumpkin

From: Bumpkinland

Registered: 2009-04-12

Posts: 109,606

Re: Inequality

Hi winkylocc;

When we say 3.14 we could mean 3.14000000... so now it is easier to see that 3.14159265... is larger.

Actually pi has an infinite amount of decimal places.

---

In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.

winkylocc

Member

Registered: 2011-07-06

Posts: 6

Re: Inequality

Ah yes, I see it now. Thanks for the clarity.

bobbym

bumpkin

From: Bumpkinland

Registered: 2009-04-12

Posts: 109,606

Re: Inequality

Hi;

Here is pi to 50 places.

To get the approximations that we are talking about we choose 2 digits past the decimal or 6 and drop the rest. This is called truncation.

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In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.