It is amazing to me that the number π, something that we rely on for figuring out the universe we live in, is an is an irrational number, which means that it cannot be expressed as a ratio of two integers AND a transcendental number – a number that cannot be produced with a finite sequence of algebraic operations (powers, roots, sums, etc.)
Infact, to carry on the calculations of the universe, we need to carry this number out 39 decimal points!
Despite its complexity, we see it when we look at two circles of different sizes. There is a constant between the to circles, a ratio between their diameter and circumference (this ratio is called pi), we can see it, but we cannot mathematically express it. We can intuit it, but we cannot write it down. Crazy!!!
These illustrations below, are part of my search to find relations between this number and its possibilities in music.
Here is just 2 bars of a rhythm based on the number Pi. Can you find where it repeats???
[haiku url=”http://www.benstapp.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/PiRhythm1-benstapp.mp3″ title=”PiRhythm1 by Ben Stapp”]
