Mathematical constant (nonfiction)
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A mathematical constant is a special number, usually a real number, that is "significantly interesting in some way".
Constants arise in many areas of mathematics, with constants such as e and π occurring in such diverse contexts as geometry, number theory, and calculus.
What it means for a constant to arise "naturally", and what makes a constant "interesting", is ultimately a matter of taste, and some mathematical constants are notable more for historical reasons than for their intrinsic mathematical interest.
The more popular constants have been studied throughout the ages and computed to many decimal places.
In the News
Fiction cross-reference
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Nonfiction cross-reference
External links:
- Mathematical constant @ Wikipedia