The Number Pi

The number π (spelled out as "pi") is a mathematical constant that is the ratio of a circle's circumference to its diameter, approximately equal to 3.14159. The number π appears in many formulae across mathematics and physics. It is an irrational number, meaning that it cannot be expressed exactly as a ratio of two integers, although fractions such as 22/7 are commonly used to approximate it. 

For thousands of years, mathematicians have attempted to extend their understanding of π, sometimes by computing its value to a high degree of accuracy. Ancient civilizations, including the Egyptians and Babylonians, required fairly accurate approximations of π for practical computations. Around 250 BC, the Greek mathematician Archimedes created an algorithm to approximate π with arbitrary accuracy. In the 5th century AD, Chinese mathematicians approximated π to seven digits, while Indian mathematicians made a five-digit approximation, both using geometrical techniques. The first computational formula for π, based on infinite series, was discovered a millennium later. The earliest known use of the Greek letter π to represent the ratio of a circle's circumference to its diameter was by the Welsh mathematician William Jones in 1706.

I wanted to build the Greek letter π in Lego on a circle with some decimal digits of the number π around it. The number of digits after the decimal point turned into 15 in this build because I thought it looked nicest. The number of bricks used = 818.

I think this could be a wonderful Lego set because the number Pi is very important and it is a nice way to celebrate Pi day (March 14/3.14). It would also make a nice display model for classrooms or a gadget for math enthusiasts. You can either put π on the disk upright or attach it flat to the disk to hang it up.