The Joy Of Pi Analysis

In his book, The Joy of Pi, David Blatner, the author of fifteen books on various subjects, attempts to explain why mathematicians continue to approximate pi to this day. He believes that they continue to do so because it poses a challenge, and it is in human nature to conquer that challenge. He tries to relay this belief to his readers through a number of different methods including, a history of pi, explaining why pi is fascinating, and how pi appears in the natural world. His writing style, text format, book format, and content all excellently cater towards the non-mathematically oriented, but still educated audience. David Blatner’s book, The Joy of Pi, attempts to show the reader, who may not necessarily be a mathematician, why mathematicians …show more content…
The author first explains that approximations of pi had no further practical use once the accuracy increased passed the twentieth digit or so, yet mathematicians still continued to approximate as many digits as accurately as they could. He accomplished this by first providing examples of how many digits of pi mathematicians employ in certain situations, which normally would not exceed 20 digits. Then he provides examples such as, uncovering obscure errors in computer hardware and software and that mathematicians find the challenge of approximating pi compelling, in an attempt to explain the obscure reasons mathematicians continue to approximate pi to billions of digits even though it holds no practical purpose. He describes the reasons mathematicians continue to calculate pi by attributing them mainly to the “human spirit of exploration” (Blatner 3). This presents what he believes the primary answer to his question of why mathematicians are so driven. He further reinforces his opinion through a lengthy history of pi, which shows that, in recent millennia, greater approximations of pi continued to develop from a need for mathematicians at the time to one up each other, which is still evident today by the 12.1 trillion digits calculated …show more content…
This does not let the reader relate to the text as well as they could with an in depth discussion of this topic. The publication date also plays a significant role in not allowing the reader to relate to the text with its outdated information and popular culture references. Other than these issues, he has successfully presented his argument so it is understandable to his intended audience, and presents the text in such a way as to hold their attention. Blatner successfully, if not fully, explains to his target audience why mathematicians are so driven to approximate pi even though it poses no significant