Education Technology


Approximating Pi -- Archimedes method

Activity Overview

Students will be assigned different regular polygons to construct. They will then construct a circumscribed circle, measure diameter, circumference and perimeter. The measurements will be placed into a spreadsheet and the ratios of circumference/diameter and perimeter/diameter will be calculated.

Before the Activity

Review the instuctions in the attached document.

During the Activity



Manual data captures will populate the spreadsheet.

After the Activity



Students will compare their data findings, discuss whose perimeter/diameter is closest to pi and why.

A solution file is provided for teachers to see what to expect from students.