Discovering+Pi

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**Discovery and Advancement of Pi**  Developed by Mike Browning( __mbrowning@holyfamily.edu__ ) Students will have to research a number of sites regarding the development of pi. In groups of two, they will create a timeline including at least, but not limited to, 5 major advancements of the number pi. Each student from the pair must also write a two page paper. One must be about the advancement of pi, and the other page about the importance of pi in our everyday lives. **Introduction** Using pi in various equations is practically second nature to us now, but it is something we should not take for granted. Dating back to the ancient empires, the existence of this mathematical constant has been know, studied and advanced for millennia! It is extremely important to not only understand how the people before us knew it existed, but also why it is important to us thousands of years later. If this amazing discovery had never taken place our lives would be vastly different. So the challenge presented to you and your partner is to create a timeline of when an advancement of pi occurred and after all your research write roughly one page as to “why pi is important?” Each group will need to complete the following: 1)Research with your partner the advancement of pi and why it is important. 2) Break the work up into two groups(1 investigator and 1 recorder). 3) Create a timeline with at least 5 major advancements of pi and a brief explanation. 4) Summarize the timeline into a 1 page paper, and then another page regarding its importance. **Investigation** Below is a list of websites to help guide your research. Url: __http://www.geom.uiuc.edu/~huberty/math5337/groupe/overview.html__ Gives a historical overview of pi and some of the people who helped advance the specification of the number. Url: __http://www.arcytech.org/java/pi/facts.html__ Provides the student with a wide array of facts regarding pi, and some places they may not have realized pi had been used or acknowledged. Url: __http://www-history.mcs.st-and.ac.uk/HistTopics/Pi_through_the_ages.html__ A great math website with in depth biographies of major mathematicians and also includes a great deal of information about this mathematical constant. Url: __http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/the-life-of-pi-469751.html__ A good article from England discussing the celebration of pi day, modern day ties of the number and places where pi has been used recently. Url: __http://www.pinoyhenyo.com/How_Is_Pi_Used_In_Everyday-20090220004723369.html__ Gives students another application of how mathematicians and engineers use pi each and every day. After reviewing the above links you and your partner should begin to have a strong understanding as to how pi has been discovered and where it has been seen in our lives. These should provide most of the necessary information for your timeline and paper, but discuss with your partner if the information gathered is sufficient. Please also be sure to keep track of where you got the information **because you will need to cite it!** **Gathering and Sorting** If you and your partner decide you need to use more resources for information it is allowed, **I just ask that you keep track of where it came from and use the proper citation for it.** One place that you may want to look is in our school library; However, if you are unable to get there, the Free Library of Philadelphia is online at: __http://www.library.phila.gov/__ Also students may use the following search engines to aid them in their research: __www.bing.com__ __www.google.com__ __www.amazon.com__ (This is for books if you aren’t familiar with it.) A few books that might aid in your research are: __Pi: A Biography of the World's Most Mysterious Number__ by Alfred S. Posamentier. __A History of Pi__ by Petr Beckmann __The Joy of Pi__ by David Blatner **The Portfolio** Students will be able to review the following books in the class portfolio and compare the information found in them to their own and determine which is best for their project. Beckman, P. (1976) //A History of Pi.// New York: St. Martin's Griffin. Blatner, B. (1999) //The Joy of Pi//. New York: Walker & Company. Posamentier, A. S. (2004) //Pi:A Biography of the World’s Most Mysterious Number//. London: Prometheus Books. If the student finds it necessary to include information to the portfolio they can add it on a 3x5 index card with all the pertinent information to locate it. **Sharing** After gathering all the needed information the group will come together and decide what exactly they will include on their timeline and also in their papers. In-class time will be provided for the students to complete their timelines, which will be presented in front of the class for their group grade.

**Evaluation** The students will be given a grade out of 20, which will be 20% of their grade for this marking term. The grading will be done as followed: 1)5 points for a completed timeline with the required information and events. 2)5 points for their in-class presentation with their partner of the timeline. 3)4 points for their discussion of the history of pi in their papers 4) 4 points for their discussion of modern day applications of pi 5) 2 points for citing their research.

