Next: , Previous: , Up: Numbers Dictionary  


12.2.22 pi [Constant Variable]

Value::

an implementation-dependent long float.

Description::

The best long float approximation to the mathematical constant \pi.

Examples::

 ;; In each of the following computations, the precision depends 
 ;; on the implementation.  Also, if `long float' is treated by 
 ;; the implementation as equivalent to some other float format 
 ;; (e.g., `double float') the exponent marker might be the marker
 ;; for that equivalent (e.g., `D' instead of `L').
 pi ⇒  3.141592653589793L0
 (cos pi) ⇒  -1.0L0

 (defun sin-of-degrees (degrees)
   (let ((x (if (floatp degrees) degrees (float degrees pi))))
     (sin (* x (/ (float pi x) 180)))))

Notes::

An approximation to \pi in some other precision can be obtained by writing (float pi x), where x is a float of the desired precision, or by writing (coerce pi type), where type is the desired type, such as short-float.