I’m not a mathematician by any stretch. I just like math and am completely self taught. I really need to know exactly why what I’m about to explain would not be considered squaring a circle.
So, you have circle divided into 8 identical parts. Now suppose you flatten the circumference into a straight line creating something like what my very crude drawing looks like. A straight line with eight triangles standing straight up. You can square triangles. So why wouldn’t the sum of the areas of the triangles be equal to the area of the circle? Thereby squaring the circle? I realize you don’t literally have to take the circle apart. It’s just a convenient way for me to explain what I mean. You’re basically just dividing the circle into equal parts and squaring those. No need for pi. Really sorry if this turns out to be embarrassingly obvious but I had to ask. Thanks in advance.
Edit: Thank you for your comments that took the time to explain my flawed thinking. I now know that my idea of what squaring a circle means was wrong. I’ve been set straight. Thanks everybody!!
