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A History of Pi
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A History of Pi, Petr Beckmann's 1970 book from Golem Press, is the standard popular history of the number pi, covering Johann Heinrich Lambert's 1761 proof that pi is irrational and Ferdinand von Lindemann's 1882 proof that pi is transcendental, the result that settled the ancient squaring-the-circle problem. Its strength is that it is a widely read, still-cited narrative history of the mathematics involved. Its limit is that it is a popular rather than peer-reviewed academic work, so a technical claim about the proofs themselves is better checked against a mathematics history text.
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Reliability Tier2
Tier two: a widely read, still cited narrative history of the mathematics involved rather than a peer reviewed academic work. Reliable for the popular history it tells; a technical claim about the underlying proofs is better checked against a dedicated mathematics history text. NotesThe standard popular history of the number pi. Covers Johann Heinrich Lambert's 1761 proof that pi is irrational and Ferdinand von Lindemann's 1882 proof that pi is transcendental, the second result settling the ancient squaring-the-circle problem by showing pi is not constructible by compass and straightedge. Use for this history-of-mathematics narrative; a popular rather than a peer-reviewed academic work, tier 2.
Citation
AuthorPetr Beckmann
PublisherGolem Press
Publication Year1970
Source TypeScholarly work
Claims Backed By This Source (9 claims)
This source backs 9 claims across the atlas. As facts: 8 well-attested. Plus 1 entities citing it as a general reference with no single fact or relationship attached.
Disposition By Topic
- Sources, 7 claims: 7 well-attested.
- Articles, 1 claims: 1 well-attested.
- Sacred Geometry, 1 claims: 1 general references.
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