Table 2 Some notable (if not perverse) rational approximations of p.

     When         By Whom                    Ratio      Value       Percent
                                                                     Error

c. 2000 B.C.  Babylonians                   25 / 8      3.125       -0.53

c. 2000 B.C.  Egyptians                    256 / 81     3.16049...  +0.60

 c. 550 B.C.  Old Testament,
              1 Kings 7:23                   3 / 1      3           -4.5

 c. 220 B.C.  Archimedes of Syracuse    211875 / 67441  3.14163...  +0.0013
                                                            
 c. 160 A.D.  Ptolemy of Alexandria        377 / 120    3.1416      +0.0024

    263 A.D.  Liu Hui (China)              157 / 50     3.14        -0.051

 c. 500 A.D.  Aryabhata (India)           3927 / 1250   3.1416      +0.00023

   1220 A.D.  Fibonacci (Italy)            864 / 275    3.1418      +0.0072

   1573 A.D.  Valentinus Otho
              (Prussia)                    355 / 113    3.14159...  +0.0000085

   1897 A.D.  Indiana House of              16 / 5      3.2         +1.9
              Representatives (U.S.A.)