Mathematical constant

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A mathematical constant is a number, which has a special meaning for calculations. For example, the constant π (speak: pi) means the ratio of the length of a circle's line to this circle's diameter and this number is for all circle's ca. 3,1414. In contrast to physical constants mathematical constants are not dependent from measurements.

[edit] Some mathematical constants

Here are some constants you will probably see in a mathematical text
Name of the constant Symbol Value, what you have to calculate with Meaning, usage
Pi, Archimedes' constant or Ludoph's number π ≈ 3,141592653589793 ratio of the lenght of a circle's line to this circle's diameter, area of the unit circle
E, Napier's constant e ≈ 2,718281828459045 base of Natural logarithm
Golden mean φ \frac{\sqrt{5}+1}{2} \approx 1{,}618033988749895 Is a line split in two parts in this ratio, then the ratio of lenghts of the total line L to the longer part B and the ratio of the lengths of the longer part B to the shorter part A have this value.