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History of Pi and Buffon s Needle

Learning Exercise: History of Pi and Buffon s Needle

Title:

History of Pi and Buffon s Needle

Material:

Buffon's Needle Estimate of Pi (Mathematics)

Description:

Students are directed to visit the MacTutor History of Mathematics Archive and to read an extensive online article entitled History of Pi; in addition, they make use of an interactive simulation of Buffon's Needle experiment. Afterwards, they answer several questions on how mathematicians calculated approximations for the value of pi and on the formulas that they used. In a subsequent class session, the instructor demonstrates a Java applet that simulates Buffon's Needle experiment in a cumulative manner. In a think-pair-share activity or write-pair-share activity, students analyze and discuss Buffon's experiment and its relationship to the value of pi.

Course: Liberal Arts Math

Info

Submitted by:

James Rutledge

Date Last Modified:

October 08, 2007

Exercise

Please use Additional Information URL

Additional Information: http://serc.carleton.edu/sp/merlot/math/justintime/examples/16400.html

Disciplines

Mathematics and Statistics / Mathematics / General and Liberal Arts Math

Audience

College General Ed
High School

Topics

Pi, Buffon's needle