For questions about mathematical constants, that are "significantly interesting in some way".

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13
votes
2answers
218 views

A new constant?

I was experimenting in Wolfram Alpha the answer to the equation $\int_0^k x^x dx=1$ And I got about 1.19... But, What is this number k (and could you calculate it to more decimal places?) And is it ...
11
votes
7answers
313 views

$\pi$ from the unit circle, $\sqrt 2$ from the unit square but what about $e$? [duplicate]

If one wants to introduce $\pi$ to a not mathematically savvy person, the unit circle would be a good choice. The unit square would be the way to go for $\sqrt 2$. But what about $e$? I've reviewed ...
10
votes
8answers
607 views

“How I wish I could calculate pi” analogs…

You might know the mnemonic for $\pi$ in the title or even this more elaborated one: Sir, I bear a rhyme excelling In mystic force, and magic spelling Celestial sprites elucidate All my own ...
9
votes
4answers
203 views

Are there two $\pi$s?

The mathematical constant $\pi$ occurs in the formula for the area of a circle, $A=\pi r^2$, and in the formula for the circumference of a circle, $C= 2\pi r$. How does one prove that these constants ...
7
votes
2answers
213 views

Proving that $\pi=\sum\limits_{k=0}^{\infty}(-1)^{k}\left(\frac{2^{2k+1}+(-1)^{k}}{(4k+1)2^{4k}}+ \frac{2^{2k+2}+(-1)^{k+1}}{(4k+3)2^{4k+2}}\right)$

Long time ago I've been playng with formulas for $\pi$ and found that one above in the title which can also be expressed as \begin{align*} ...
6
votes
2answers
80 views

Two questions about Euler's number $e$

I am on derivatives at the moment and I just bumped into this number $e$, "Euler's number" . I am told that this number is special especially when I take the derivative of $e^x$ , because its slope of ...
6
votes
1answer
107 views

Proving that $\frac{\pi}{2}=\prod_{k=2}^{\infty}\left(1+\frac{(-1)^{\frac{p_{{k}}-1}{2}}}{p_{k}} \right )^{-1}$ an identity of Euler's.

This is another identity of Euler's relating $\pi$ to the prime numbers, available here \begin{align*} \dfrac{\pi}{2}=\prod_{k=2}^{\infty}\left(1+\dfrac{(-1)^{\dfrac{p_{{k}}-1}{2}}}{p_{k}} \right ...
4
votes
0answers
52 views

The Tribonacci constant and the Dragon

Let $x = \frac{\ln T}{\ln 2} = 0.879146\dots$ where $T$ is the tribonacci constant, then x solves the transcendental equation, $$4^x(2^x-1)=(2^x+1)$$ Let $x = \frac{\ln y}{\ln 2} = 1.523627\dots$ ...
3
votes
1answer
124 views

How to derive the Golden mean by using properties of Gamma function?

The Golden mean known as $\frac{1+\sqrt{5}}{2}$. How could one show the Golden mean can be expressed as $$ \frac{2\cdot 3\cdot 7\cdot 8\cdot 12\cdot 13\cdots}{1\cdot 4\cdot 6\cdot 9\cdot 11\cdot ...
2
votes
3answers
55 views

Positive constant scalar definition

In French when we say "$k$ est une constante positive", that means $k\geq 0$. But I remarked that using the same sentence in English, "$k$ is a positive constant", means that $k>0$. Can one explain ...
0
votes
0answers
33 views

Mathematica will not integrate with a constant [closed]

I don't know what is wrong, Mathematica will only give me the original integral but won't evaluate it. any help? eq1 = 0.048519*x eq2 = -0.0134 eq3 = {sin[(n*[CapitalPi]*x)/0.586667]} eq4 = ...