They can't know that for sure, can they?
2006-09-24 11:57:21 · 8 answers · asked by k.c 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Mathematics
Yes, they can and they do. If Pi were a terminating decimal, that would imply that Pi can be expressed as the quotient of two integers, and that would in turn imply the existence of an integer strictly between 0 and 1 (see http://www.coolissues.com/mathematics/Pi/pi.htm for a simple proof). Since there are no such integers, we know Pi is not rational, from which the fact that its decimal expansion is non-terminating follows trivially.
2006-09-24 12:07:25 · answer #1 · answered by Pascal 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As to the Jimmy Neutron episode, that same thing happened in an episode of the original Star Trek. Spock asked the computer to calculate the last digit of pi.
2006-09-24 16:54:44 · answer #2 · answered by PC_Load_Letter 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, if there were an end to pi, it would be a rational number, i.e. a number of the form a/b. It has been proven that pi is not a rational number, therefore it can never end or start repeating itself indefinitely.
2006-09-24 12:02:33 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You have not watch Jimmy Neutron yet, haven't you? There was an episo that the smart computer chip was crashed trying to define Pi. It was a good one. :)
2006-09-24 12:06:20 · answer #4 · answered by TheOne 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
So far they do not KNOW...
but...
they have calculated the value of Pi out to .. hmmm.. I think.. 5 Billion decimal places and examined them for any pattern that they could use to reduce it to a ratio of two integers.. and they found none.
2006-09-24 12:23:31 · answer #5 · answered by ♥Tom♥ 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yes they do. It's not a radical number, meaning it can't be expressed as a fraction. If a number is real and can't be written as a fraction, it goes on forever.
2006-09-24 12:01:36 · answer #6 · answered by yofatcat1 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, but computers with more memory than mine and yours put together have worked on it for many hours - and no pattern has been discovered yet!
2006-09-24 12:00:51 · answer #7 · answered by tlf 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
everyone agrees, thats how I know
2006-09-24 12:18:56 · answer #8 · answered by Mike R 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋