Which constant is commonly approximated by 22/7?

• A. e
• B. pi
• C. sqrt2
• D. gamma

Answer: (B)

Pi is the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter, and 22/7 is a classic simple fraction used to approximate that value. Pi is about 3.14159, while 22/7 equals 3.142857…, a close match that makes quick circle calculations convenient. The other constants—e is about 2.718, the square root of 2 is about 1.414, and gamma is about 0.577—are not near 3.14, so they’re not commonly approximated by 22/7.