The Welshman who made a major maths breakthrough

The Welshman who made a major maths breakthrough

4 April 2024 By Johnber

,  NewsTogether

 

In 1706, William Jones, a self-taught mathematical genius from Anglesey, precisely defined π, unlocking its practical applications. Born in 1675 in Llanfihangel Tre’r Beirdd, Jones received only basic education. However, his talent for arithmetic led Lord Bulkeley to arrange his move to London to work in a bank.

On March 14th, International Pi Day commemorates Jones, as 3/14 represents the first three digits of π. While civilizations like the Greeks and Egyptians recognized the concept of π, its exact value eluded them. Jones was the first to realize π's irrational, non-repeating nature, requiring its own unique symbol.

Welsh financier Billy Crofts, fascinated by Jones, notes his contributions to practical mathematics. Jones taught math in the Royal Navy, contributing to navigation during his service in the West Indies. Retiring from the Navy in 1702, he expanded his theories, detailed in his book "Synopsis Palmariorum Matheseos."

Collaborating with Isaac Newton and Edmond Halley, Jones's ideas found practical application. Pi enhanced calculus and aided in predicting the Moon's orbit, crucial for maritime navigation. Jones's work also improved clock accuracy by defining pendulum swings.

Jones, who married twice and had four children, died in 1749, leaving behind an extensive mathematical library. In 2000, Cambridge University acquired his collection for £6,370,000. Crofts emphasizes Jones's impact on modern life, from technology to weather forecasting, attributing it to his mastery of π.

Connecting School

pi(파이)

Pi —which is written as the Greek letter for p, or π—is the ratio of the circumference of any circle to the diameter of that circle. Regardless of the circle's size, this ratio will always equal pi.

 

Keywords

1. Arithmetic - The branch of mathematics dealing with the properties and manipulation of numbers.
2. International Pi Day - An annual celebration commemorating the mathematical constant π, observed on March 14th (3/14).
3. Irrational - A number that cannot be expressed as a fraction of two integers and has an infinite, non-repeating decimal representation.
4. Non-repeating number - A number whose decimal representation does not repeat indefinitely.
5. Royal Navy - The naval warfare branch of the British Armed Forces.
6. West Indies - The region comprising the Caribbean islands and surrounding coastal areas.
7. Calculus - A branch of mathematics dealing with rates of change and accumulation, especially in the context of functions.
8. Maritime navigation - The process of determining and controlling the movement of ships or boats on water.
9. Clock accuracy - The degree to which a clock displays the correct time relative to a standard reference.
10. Pendulum - A weight suspended from a pivot that swings freely back and forth under the influence of gravity.

 

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