Trigonometry & 3-Space

Irrational Numbers – Higher-Order Questions

1. The Alexandrian mathematician Diophantus (who lived during the 2nd century A.D.) was the
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first Greek mathematician to recognize fractions as numbers, and his work led to the use of
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as an approximation for π. Use your calculator to compare the values of π and to as
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many decimal places as possible, and explain the advantages and disadvantages of using the
fraction as an approximation in applications that use π .

2. Two students are asked to compare the increase in the area of a circle if the radius is increased
from 4 m to 8 m. Meghan and Luke do their work as is shown below.

Meghan A = πr 2 Luke A = πr 2
A = π ( 4) 2 A = (3.14 )( 4) 2
st st
1 circle A =16 π 1 circle A = 50 .24

A = π(8) 2 A = (3.14 )( 8) 2
A = 64 π A = 200 .96
2nd circle 2nd circle
A2 A2
increase = increase =
A1 A1
64π 200 .96
increase = increase =
increase 16π increase 50 .24
increase = 4 increase = 4

Why is the end result the same in this problem if Meghan used the exact value of pi and Luke
only used a decimal approximation?

3. a) Evaluate the expression sin 60 o + cos 60 o using decimal approximations of the trig values.
b) Evaluate the expression from part (a) using exact values, then give a decimal approximation
your final answer.
c) Compare your answers. Is there any merit to using the exact values? Justify your answer.
d) Evaluate the expression (sin 150 o ) 2 − sin 90 o + (cos 30 o ) 2 using decimal approximations.
e) Evaluate the expression from part (a) using exact values, then give a decimal approximation
your final answer.
f) Compare your answers. Is there any merit to using the exact values? Justify your answer.