Zu Chongzhi was born in an official family, and most members of this family have studied astronomical calendars. Influenced by family traditions, Zu Chongzhi was interested in astronomy and mathematics since he was a child. Throughout Zu Chongzhi's academic research all his life, he has always adhered to the attitude of seeking truth from facts, daring to doubt and being innovative, which is an excellent quality that an outstanding mathematician should possess.
Zu Chongzhi's seal script has long been lost, so his achievements in mathematics can only be examined from other historical materials. According to the data quoted by later generations, Zu Chongzhi has made great contributions to pi and sphere volume, among which the most outstanding contribution is the calculation of pi.
Sui Shu? Zu Chongzhi's research achievements are recorded in the Records of Law and Discipline: "In ancient times, there were nine numbers, three π, one π and one π, and their skills were sparse. As Liu Xin, Zhang Heng, Liu Hui, dorri and Pi Yanzong each worked out new rates, no compromise was reached. At the end of the Song Dynasty, South Xuzhou engaged in Zu Chongzhi's more secret method. The circle diameter was 100 million feet, and the circumference was three feet, one foot, four inches, one minute, five centimeters, nine minutes, two seconds and six seconds. The positive number was between surplus and limit. Density: circle diameter 1 13, circumference 355. About the rate: the diameter of the circle is seven, and the week is twenty-second. "
This passage contains three results: 3. 14 15926.
In the west, it was not until 1573 that German Valentinus Oito worked out the value of 355/13, which was more than 1 100 years later than Zu Chongzhi, which was enough to show Zu Chongzhi's position in the history of world mathematics development.