Abstract
Babylonian mathematicians understood the role of π in both distance and area measurement of a circle. Using triangle, polygon, and circle geometry texts from the Old Babylonian era I offer an explanation of how they knew that ratios pertaining to distance, and area, of a circle were indeed constant, and that these ratios were related. This is based on the Babylonians conceiving of a circle as a many-sided polygon which also explains their widely attested estimate of π of 3. Given this conceiving of a circle, the Babylonians possessed the mathematical knowledge to use Archimedes’ method of exhaustion to improve their estimate. I apply it and derive the attested Babylonian improved estimate of π of 31/8.
Published Version
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