Using a rope to square a circle - Śulba Sūtras
Using rope to square a circle What is squaring a circle? It is drawing a square equal to the area of a given circle. Area of a circle = Pi*r^2 where r is the radius of the circle Area of square = s^2 where s is the side of the square Therefore Pi*r^2=s^2 implies s= r*sqrt(Pi) But Pi is a transcadental number. Therefore its square root cannot be computed exactly This squaring of a circle using a compass and straight edge is considered impossible. Hence squaring a circle is used by many as a metaphor for doing the impossible. However it can be easily done via a rope as explained the Sulbasutras. The Sulbasutras are appendices to the Vedas which give rules for constructing altars. (Sanskrit śulba: "string, cord, rope") are sutra texts belonging to the Śrauta ritual. Śrauta is a Sanskrit word that means "belonging to śruti", that is, anything based on the Vedas of Hinduism. It is an adjective and prefix for texts, ceremonies or person associated with śruti. In Bharat ...