Is π a rational, irrational number, natural, whole or integer?

1 Answer
Jun 28, 2015

π is an irrational number

Explanation:

Rational numbers are all numbers expressible as pq for some integers p and q with q0.

π is not expressible as pq for some integers p, q with q0, though there are some good approximations of that form. So it is not rational and is irrational.

The Chinese discovered that 355113 was a good approximation for π about 15 centuries ago.

3551133.1415929

See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mil%C3%BC

π is not only irrational, it is what is called a transcendental number: It is not a root of any polynomial equation with integer coefficients.

Though almost all real numbers are transcendental numbers, it is not easy to determine that any given number is transcendental. For example, it has been proved that π and e are transcendental numbers, but it is not known whether π+e is transcendental.