Bytelearn - cat image with glassesAI tutor

Welcome to Bytelearn!

Let’s check out your problem:

Recall pi is defined as the ratio of the circumference (say c) of a circle to its diameter (say d). That is pi=(c)/(d). This seems to contradict the fact that pi is irrational. How will you resolve this contradiction?

Recall π \pi is defined as the ratio of the circumference (say cc) of a circle to its diameter (say dd). That is π=cd \pi=\frac{c}{d} . This seems to contradict the fact that π \pi is irrational. How will you resolve this contradiction?

Full solution

Q. Recall π \pi is defined as the ratio of the circumference (say cc) of a circle to its diameter (say dd). That is π=cd \pi=\frac{c}{d} . This seems to contradict the fact that π \pi is irrational. How will you resolve this contradiction?
  1. Definition of Pi: Pi is defined as the ratio of the circumference cc of a circle to its diameter dd, which is expressed as π=cd\pi = \frac{c}{d}. The apparent contradiction arises from the fact that π\pi is known to be an irrational number, yet the ratio of two lengths cc and dd seems like it should be a rational number.
  2. Nature of Irrational Numbers: To resolve this contradiction, we must understand the nature of irrational numbers. An irrational number is a number that cannot be expressed as a simple fraction, meaning it cannot be written as a ratio of two integers. The fact that π\pi is irrational means that although it is defined as a ratio of two lengths, these lengths cannot be both whole numbers.
  3. Continuous Real Numbers: The circumference and diameter of a circle are both continuous, real numbers. When we measure them, we can only approximate their values. The definition of π\pi as a ratio does not imply that it must be a ratio of two integers; it can be a ratio of two real numbers that do not form a simple fraction.
  4. Mathematical Approaches: Furthermore, the irrationality of π\pi is proven through various mathematical approaches, such as infinite series, and is not based solely on its geometric definition. The geometric definition is a way to understand π\pi conceptually, but the true nature of π\pi is revealed through deeper mathematical analysis.
  5. Resolution of Contradiction: Therefore, the contradiction is resolved by recognizing that the definition of π\pi as a ratio does not require the ratio to be between two integers. The irrationality of π\pi is a property that emerges from its infinite, non-repeating decimal expansion, which cannot be captured by a simple fraction of any two lengths, regardless of how they are measured.

More problems from Interpret parts of quadratic expressions: word problems