Pi: A Biography of the World's Most Mysterious Number

by Alfred S. Posamentier, Ingmar Lehmann, Herbert A Hauptman (Afterword)

In this delightful layperson's introduction to one of math's most interesting phenomena, Drs. Posamentier and Lehmann review pi's history from prebiblical times to the 21st century, the many amusing and mind-boggling ways of estimating pi over the centuries, quirky examples of obsessing about pi, and useful applications of pi in everyday life, including statistics.

Genres: Mathematics, Science, History, Nonfiction

324 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 31, 2004

About the author

Alfred S. Posamentier (born October 18, 1942) is among the most prominent American educators in the country and is a lead commentator on American math and science education, regularly contributing to The New York Times and other news publications. He has created original math and science curricula, emphasized the need for increased math and science funding, promulgated criteria by which to select math and science educators, advocated the importance of involving parents in K-12 math and science education, and provided myriad curricular solutions for teaching critical thinking in math.

Dr. Posamentier was a member of the New York State Education Commissioner’s Blue Ribbon Panel on the Math-A Regents Exams. He served on the Commissioner’s Mathematics Standards Committee, which redefined the Standards for New York State. And he currently serves on the New York City schools’ Chancellor’s Math Advisory Panel.

Posamentier earned a Ph.D. in mathematics education from Fordham University (1973), a Master’s degree in mathematics education from the City College of the City University of New York (1966) and an A.B. degree in mathematics from Hunter College of the City University of New York.

Posamentier was born in Manhattan in New York City, the son of Austrian immigrants. He has one daughter (Lisa, born in 1970), and one son (David, born in 1978). He resides in River Vale, New Jersey and is the current Dean of the School of Education and professor of mathematics education at Mercy College, New York. He was formerly professor of mathematics education and dean of the School of Education at The City College of the City University of New York, where he spent the previous 40 years.

Reviews

[Dave Brothers · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first third of this book is chock full of wildly interesting mathematical history regarding the evolution of our understanding of pi - a highly-intriguing and ubiquitous number with a simple concept (the ratio of a circle's diameter to its circumference) yet an as-yet-unobtainable exact value. If (and only if) you're highly interested in lists of formulas (which, admittedly, I kind of am), the middle of the book is relatively interesting. The last 40 or so pages are dedicated to showing the entire length of the known value of pi which is an astounding accomplishment to behold, but naturally not the most thrilling reading material in and of itself. Definitely check it out for the historical value; thanks to this book, I discovered how long 500 stadia are!

[Carly · Rating 2 out of 5]

I did not read this book for pleasure, I read it because I had to write a paper about pi. The book actually wasn't as boring as I thought it would be. There were some very interesting facts about pi I never knew, but I am a nerd, what can I say...

[Tiffany · Rating 2 out of 5]

An interesting look at pi, different attempts at calculating pi through the ages, and random places the value of pi shows up (areas of other shapes, probability of a needle falling between lines on a paper, etc.). What this book didn't tell me, though, was how the mathematicians figured out that pi was part of these random places in the first place. Like... how did they calculate that the value of pi is part of the randomness of how and where a needle falls on a piece of paper?

It wasn't bad, though. Once I decided that the authors weren't going to explain those things and I just accepted it, it was weird the different places that ~22/7 comes up, and there were some interesting mathematical tricks shown.

[Amber Scaife · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disappointing. It isn't at all well written, and there are factual errors on topics that I *do* know about (for example, in the details of Archimedes' life), which makes me wonder about the rest of it. Also, it's dry when it could have - and should have - been fascinating.

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good book, most of the facts were known for me, but I really enjoyed the recreational math part.

[Tyler · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was interesting, I learned a ton about pi. Some of the connections that made with pi tho seemed like a stretch.

[Jimyanni · Rating 3 out of 5]

The portions of this book that dealt with the history of the number pi and how understanding of it (and accuracy of estimating it) have evolved were quite interesting. When they moved beyond that to entire chapters filled with equations showing how it could be used in calculating the area and/or circumference of various shapes it quickly became tedious. The fact that it actually has a "chapter" that details pi to 100,000 decimal places is entertaining, and if I ever go back to memorizing pi as I did in High School, I'll be sure to use that as a reference. Or at least, maybe the first page of it.

[Maurizio Codogno · Rating 2 out of 5]

Troppo chiacchieroso per i miei gusti

Nella mia caccia a libri sul pi greco, ho trovato anche questo. A parte lo spazio occupato per scrivere 100000 cifre decimali della costante, che mi è sembrato davvero un po' esagerato, ho trovato il testo troppo chiacchieroso per i miei gusti, e soprattutto con divagazioni che sono davvero troppo tenuamente collegate a pi greco ma sembravano tanto essere messe come riempitivi. Posso immaginare che il libro sia pensato per lettori che di matematica ne sappiano poco o nulla, ma comunque non lo consiglierei nemmeno a loro.

[Ed · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm no master of maths, but numbers and mathematics make for fascinating material when given the proper treatment. This book succeeded in illuminating that mysterious number that is found in every circle.

[Mike Budzik · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick read because IV been through most of the information before. Chapter 7 (Paradox in π) salvaged the book in my opinion.

[Joel · Rating 1 out of 5]

The book is filled with mathematical theorems and isn't approachable for a casual reader as promised by the authors.

[Nick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Never made it all the way through this, but hope to finish it someday... I love this stuff.