Pi (ƒÎ) is one of the most essential yet vexing numbers in all of mathematics. The quest for the full value of this number encompasses almost all of manfs history, from the advent of civilization to the present day technology-based world. Throughout the centuries, many brilliant men have searched for ways to find the extent of pi. Whether they knew it or not, these men were participating in one of the most consequential and important investigations of all time. The significance of pi, not yet fully known even to this day, is one which has been shown in almost all fields of science and mathematics.
             Pi is commonly defined as the ratio of a circlefs circumference to its diameter (ƒÎ=c/d.) It is an irrational number, meaning it is not equal to any fraction. It is also a transcendental number. Being transcendental means that pi is not the root of any polynomial equation with rational, or fractional, coefficients (Beckmann). Todayfs commonly accepted value of pi up to 2,000 digits can be found in Diagram 1.2. Today, pi can be used in navigation, engineering, architecture, agriculture and many other fields. But, perhaps, the most important use for pi is in the field of mathematics where even today, pi is still helping mathematicians to find the mysteries behind the circle and the arc and curve.
             The history of pi in the West begins in Egypt around 1650 BCE with a scribe named Ahmes, who is the first person credited with recording the value for the ratio between a circlefs circumference and diameter and therefore pi. It is believed that Ahmes obtained his approximation for pi using a crude system of only ropes and stakes in the sand (Beckmann). It is amazing then that Ahmes found the ratio to be 3.16049, just less than 1 percent off the real value of pi of 3.141592 (Blatner). The next mention of pi comes in the Old Testament of the Bible which was written by the Hebrews around the 6th century BCE. In 1 Kings 7:23,...