Proof that π is irrational
Demostración de la irracionalidad de π
- Date
- 1761-1768 · confidence high
- Place
- Berlin, Germany
- Credited to
- Johann Heinrich Lambert
- Field
- Knowledge & symbols
What was discovered
First rigorous proof that the number π is irrational, meaning it cannot be expressed as the ratio of two integers.
What it led to
- Proof of the transcendence of π (Lindemann, 1882)
- Extension of proof-by-contradiction methods in number theory
- Later simplifications of the proof (Hermite, Niven, Bourbaki)