Re: [math-fun] Computing pi (or anything else) to N digits

It is unclear to me exactly what you are asking. But in case you're referring to the (real or complex) root of a polynomial with integer (or more generally, rational) coefficients, those roots are all called "algebraic" numbers. (Regardless of whether there is a formula for them in terms of the coefficients that uses only the four arithmetic operations and integer powers or roots.) --Dan On 2012-10-15, at 7:45 PM, Henry Baker wrote:

"Transcendental" means not the root of any finite polynomial with integer coefficients.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transcendental_number

Is there a name for a number which isn't algebraic for a _solvable_ Galois polynomial -- i.e., a number which can't be constructed by rational & root operations?