Data & ProbabilityMathematics

Finding Pi With Needles

Pi appears in a game with no circles at all

Drop needles on a wooden floor and count the ones that cross a crack. How could that count lead to pi?

You'll find out

  • Where the circle hides in a needle
  • Why each digit costs so many needles
  • A 1901 result that looks too good

Why it matters

Computers play games of chance millions of times to answer questions too hard to work out exactly.

About 3 min6 interactive slides · 5 questionsLesson 225 · Zone 25

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