π was first calculated by Archimedes of Syracuse (287–212 BC), one of the greatest mathematicians of the ancient world. He drew polygons to estimate the area of a circle and showed that π is between 3 1/7 and 3 10/71. Later, A similar approach was used by Zu Chongzhi (429–501), a brilliant Chinese mathematician and astronomer. He calculated the value of the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter to be 355/113 using a 24,576-gon! (See the Exploratorium's "A Brief History of Pi")
Download the Pi Calculation worksheet to see if you can measure and calculate Pi or just use a string to measure any round object in your house like a plate or a cup!
