What is Euler’s number and Pi ?
In: Mathematics
Pi is the ratio of the circumference (distance around) to twice the radius (distance from the center to the edge) of a circle. It’s about 3.14159 but the written decimal goes on forever. Because of a pretty deep connection between circles and trigonometry, and between trigonometry and Euler’s number, pi shows up in a *ton* of places in physics and math.
Euler’s number, e, is about 2.718 (but also goes in forever). It has a number of unique properties but it’s not as easy to intuitively “see” as pi. It shows up in calculus a ton because the slope of certain functions involving e is the the same as the value of the function. Which sounds really abstract but it shows up in all kinds of natural processes where the increase of something depends on how much of it you already have, like compound interest or rabbits reproducing.
As soon as you get even vaguely near differential equations e and pi start popping up all over the place.
Edit: clarified radius vs diameter
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