THE GREAT PYRAMID OF GIZA, PI, AND THE GOLDEN RATIO

Miguel R. Ramirez, Galena Park High School

(Last Review: November-19-2018)

Summary: Much has been speculated about how the Great Pyramid was constructed, as well as the rule used to determine
its proportions. Two main theories have been proposed for this last point: one stating that Pi was used to set the proportion
base-height, the other that this proportion was determined using the Golden Ratio Phi. The interesting point is that both
theories fits the Great Pyramid proportions with two or three decimals precision, good enough for construction’s purposes.
Using this fact, it is shown in this paper that several algebraic relationships can be set between Pi and the Golden Ratio at
the same precision. Exact transcendental Pi-Phi relationships can be also obtained from the Great Pyramid geometry. It is
also shown in this paper that these relationships between Pi and Phi only happens for the square pyramid’s geometry.

Introduction.
The Great Pyramid of Giza has fascinated many
people during hundreds of years. Considered one of
the seven wonders of the Ancient world, the Greek
historian Herodotus refers that it took 10 years of
preparation and 20 years of building (1). It was the
tallest man-made structure in the world for over
3,800 years. Even in our days, with all our modern
technology, it would be very difficult and expensive
to build such structure (4).
It is estimated that about 2,300,000 granite blocks
ranging from 2 tons to 7 tons, and some large ones
from 9 tons to 40 tons (3) were used in its
construction. So if we take Herodotus construction
time as the correct one-, then the build rate would Fig 1. Great Pyramid variables
have been one block every 4.66 minutes!
There are hundreds of books, websites, research The standard deviation (average deviation from the
papers, etc., containing the most diverse theories above mean) of the sides of the base is:
about the possible construction techniques, possible Sx = 0.0382 m (2)
uses other than a tomb, hidden symbolisms, etc., but
the only clear thing is that the ancient Egyptians The error in the construction of the base (deviation
were excellent engineers and extraordinary from a perfect square) can be estimated through the
constructors. coefficient of variation:
𝑆𝑥
This paper is focused on an interesting result 𝐶𝑉 = × 100 = 0.01657% (3)
coming from an analysis of the proportions of the 𝑥̅
Great Pyramid: some basic algebraic relationships The angle of the pyramid, measured from the
between two of the most fascinating numbers of the existing casing stones is:
math world: Pi and the Golden Ratio.
= 51o52’ = 51.866̅𝑜 (4)
The great pyramid’s original height estimated from
The Great Pyramid Dimensions the above x and  values is:
y = 146.721 m (5)
The 2015 measurements of the dimensions of the
Great Pyramid’s casing base were (7): The estimated average height of the triangular faces
is:
North: 230.329 m South: 230.384 m
h = 186.531 m (6)
East: 230.334 m West: 230.407 m
The estimated average length of the pyramid’s
The average length of the side of the square base is: edges is:
𝑥̅ = 230.363 𝑚 (1) s = 219.227 m (7)

1
The estimated angle of the triangular faces is:
 = 58.305o (8)
The estimated angle of the edges is:
 = 42.010o (9)
The estimated Great Pyramid’s Volume and Lateral
Surface Area are:
Vo = 2,595,353.235 m3 (10)

Ao = 85,939.682 m2 (11)

The Great Pyramid and Pi Fig.3. Pi and the Great Pyramid of Giza. The rate of half
the side of the Pyramid’s base to the Pyramid’s
One reasonable geometric criteria that the ancient height is equal to /4
Egyptians maybe used to define the proportions of
the Great Pyramid is through the use of Pi. It has Using the values (1) and (5):
been found that the perimeter of the Pyramid’s base
is equal to the length of a circumference with radius 2 × 230.363
= 3.14015 (13)
equal to the Pyramid’s height (Fig.2). 146.721
The calculated difference and relative error from Pi,
using the TI-Nspire CX 15 digits precision, and
rounding to five decimals are:
3.14015 − 𝜋 = −0.00144
y 3.14015 − 𝜋
× 100 = −0.04592 %
𝜋
This can be considered a fair match, but taking in
account the estimated construction error (3), the
above relative error is 2.7 times greater.

The Great Pyramid and Phi

x Other possible criteria is that the Golden Ratio was
used to define the Great Pyramid’s proportions. The
supporters (10) of this criteria mention that:
It was reported that the Greek historian
Fig.2. Pi and the Great Pyramid of Giza. The perimeter Herodotus learned from the Egyptian priests
of the Pyramid’s base is equal to the length of a that the square of the Great Pyramid’s height is
circumference generated with the Pyramid’s height equal to the area of its triangular lateral side…
Translating this into Math terms:
Translated into Math terms and using the notation in
(1) and (5): 𝑥∙ℎ
𝑦2 =
2
4x  2y
or
Or
2𝑥 𝑥∙ℎ
≈𝜋 (12) 𝑦=√ (14)
𝑦 2

2
 Discarding the minus solution because this is
negative, then the solution of this equation is the
Golden Ratio:
2𝑦 2 1 + √5
( ) = =𝜙 (15)
𝑥 2
So the squared ratio of twice the Great Pyramid’s
height to its base side length, should be the Golden
Ratio. Verifying this using values (1) and (5):
2 ∙ 146.721 2
( ) = 1.62263
230.363
Compared with exact Golden Ratio value:
Fig.4. Phi and the Great Pyramid of Giza. The square of
the ratio of the Great Pyramid’s height and half of
1 + √5
𝜙= = 1.61803
its base is equal to the Golden Ratio (15). 2
the difference between these two values is
Substituting values (1), (5) and (6):
1.62263 − 𝜙 = 0.000459
(230.363)(186.351) and the relative error from Phi is:
146.721 = √ = 146.577
2 1.62263 − 𝜙
× 100 = 0.28396%
𝜙
The above numbers are not very different (absolute
difference: 0.144, relative error: 0.098%), but they This can be also considered a fair match, but this
does not show any relationship with the Golden error is 17 times greater than the construction error.
Ratio. To see this relation it is necessary to do some
Algebra, and use the Pythagorean Theorem (Fig.1): Analysis.
𝑥∙ℎ 𝑥 The two above quantified criteria show that the
𝑦2 = = ∙ℎ Great Pyramid is taller (146.721 m) than those
2 2
predicted by Pi and the Golden Ratio. Using value
(1), the height of the Pi-pyramid is 146.654 m, 6.7
𝑥 𝑥 2
𝑦2 = ∙ √( ) + 𝑦 2 cm less and a deviation of 0.0459%. The height of
2 2 the Phi-pyramid is 146,513 m, 20.8 cm less and a
deviation of 0.1417%.
𝑦4 𝑥 2
= ( ) + 𝑦2 The difference between these Pi and Phi pyramids
𝑥 2 2
(2) is 14.05 cm only, with a deviation of 0.0958%, what
means that the two pyramids are very similar.
𝑦4 𝑦2
= 1 +
𝑥 4 𝑥 2
(2) (2)

2𝑦 4 2𝑦 2
( ) =( ) +1
𝑥 𝑥
2𝑦 2
Taking 𝑢 = ( 𝑥 ) :

𝑢2 = 𝑢 + 1
Solving this equation:
Fig.5. The Pi-pyramid and the Phi-pyramid Triangles.
2𝑦 2 1 ± √5 The matching of these two triangles with the Great
𝑢=( ) = Pyramid’s triangle suggests similarity.
𝑥 2

3
Assuming the two pyramid’s triangles are similar, But knowing that it can be proved that
some interesting relationships between Pi and Phi these apparently different expressions (19)-(21), are
can obtained. exactly the same. The next step now is to check how
The first algebraic relationship between Pi and Phi, precise the relationships (16) – (21) are. Using again
giving Phi in terms of Pi, results from the the TI-NspireCX 15 digits precision it can be found
proportion Hypotenuse-Base: that:
Table 1
𝜋 2
𝜙 √1 + (4 )  = 3.1415926535898
= 𝜋
1 Eq.  Difference Dev(%)
4
or (16) 1.6189931866063 0.000959197856 0.05928

4 𝜋 2 (17) 1.6211389382775 0.003104949528 0.19189

𝜙 = ∙ √1 + ( )
𝜋 4 (18) 1.6168502750681 −0.001183713682 −0.07316

 = 1.6180339887499
4 2
= √( ) + 1 (16)
𝜋 Table 2
 = 1.6180339887499
A second algebraic relationship giving Phi in terms Eq.  Difference Dev(%)
of Pi results from the proportion Height-Base:
(19) 3.1446055110296 0.0030128574398 0.09590
√𝜙 1
=𝜋 (20) 3.1446055110296 0.0030128574398 0.09590
1
4
(21) 3.1446055110297 0.0030128574399 0.09590
or
 = 3.1415926535898
4 2
𝜙=( ) (17)
𝜋
It can be seen in the above tables, that relationship
(16) gives a three decimals precision value for Phi
A third algebraic relationship relating Pi and Phi using as entry the exact value of Pi. Its inverse
results from the proportion Hypotenuse-Height: relationship (19), as well as (20) and (21), gives a
two decimals precision value for Pi from the exact
2
𝜙 √1 + (𝜋) value of Phi.
4
= No matter these remarkable values match, it is not
√𝜙 1
enough to determine which one of the two criteria
or was used. There is evidence that the ancient
Egyptians knew and used Pi (13); in the Rind
𝜋 2 Papyrus (24, 25 ) they approached its value by:
𝜙 =1+( ) (18)
4
8 2
The above expressions can be inverted to compute 𝜋 = 4 × ( ) = 3.16049 (22)
Pi in terms of Phi: 9
a value with a deviation from the real of 0.601%,
4 that does not look too bad until compared with (3),
𝜋= (19) the average deviation of the Great Pyramid’s square
From (15): √𝜙 2 − 1
base from a perfect square, a value 36 times smaller.

4 This fact opens the question: How is possible to

From (16): 𝜋= (20) have this extremely high precision in construction
√𝜙 and at the same time a low precision in the Pi-
computation? The Great Pyramid dimensions give
From (17): 𝜋 = 4 ∙ √𝜙 − 1 (21) 3.14015, a much better approximation for Pi.

4
By the other hand, there is no solid evidence that the
ancient Egyptians used the Golden Ratio. There is
no a Rind Papyrus to support this hypothesis. Even
though, this definitively does not mean that the
Golden Ratio was unknown for the ancient Egypt
priests, and possibly they kept it secret because it
was considered a sacred number, as some
speculate(15).
a b 1 b  a
a b
1 1  
a+b  𝜋 ∙ 𝜙 = 5.083203692 …
 1   2
ab a
 
a b   1 5
2
Fig.6. The Golden Ratio or Extreme-and-Mean Ratio as
defined by Euclid, is the only positive number that
to square it you have only to add 1, and to calculate
its reciprocal you have only to subtract 1.
But even though it is not possible to assure whether
Pi or Phi was used in the Great Pyramid design, it is
a fact the existence of more expressions linking
them, some of these relations can be obtained from
pure geometric-algebraic considerations, while
others are obtained from the analysis of the Great
Pyramid’s structure and proportions.
For example, the simple relationship Pi-Phi:
1 𝜋
𝑎𝑟𝑐𝑡𝑎𝑛 ( ) + 𝑎𝑟𝑐𝑡𝑎𝑛(√𝜙) =
√𝜙 2 number of sides, and the side’s length (Fig. 8).
can be easily obtained using basic trigonometry and
general properties of triangles, in the Phi-Pyramid
right triangle (Fig.7).
A
tan A  1

 tan B  
 y
A B  
2 
C  B
Fig. 7. Given that the inner angles of a triangle add up
180o or /2, and angle C = /2, then angles A and
B add up /2. Angles A and B can be calculated
using the inverse tangent function arctan().
Same formula (23) was also obtained by Xerxes
J.(14) drawing a circle centered at the Queen’s
Chamber, with radius equal the distance from this
chamber to the Great Pyramid’s apex, that contains
the Great Pyramid and a second proportional
inverted pyramid housing the Subterranean
Chamber (Annex 1).
Other interesting but much more complex Pi-Phi
relationship was obtained by Oberg-Johnson (16),
analyzing the position of the King and Queen’s
Chambers in the Great Pyramid. They found an
infinite series containing the Fibonacci Numbers
converging to the product:
the area of the Golden Ellipse with minor radius
equal one and major radius equals  (19, 20).
It is going to be proved now that all the above
remarkable Pi-Phi relationships are possible only
within the right square pyramid’s geometry, no
other right pyramid gives these same possibilities.
Even though right pyramids with base other than a
square can be built using as its pyramid triangle one
with sides ratio 𝜙: √𝜙: 1, these pyramids will not
give a ratio perimeter:height close to 2. The
reciprocal case is also true, a pyramid with base
other than a square with ratio perimeter:height equal
to 2, will not have a pyramid’s triangle with sides
ratios close to 𝜙: √𝜙: 1.
This can be easily proved just writing the perimeter
(23) of the pyramid’s base in terms of the apothem, the
.
x


a 2
x
2
2
n
a   x
tan  
 2  2a
x
Fig.8 Polygonal right pyramid. Relationship between
the number of sides n, apothem (Pyramid’s
triangle base) a, and side’s length x
5
The central angle of a n-sided regular polygon is If according with the Great Pyramid Pi-proportions
2 hypothesis the perimeter of the base divided by the
 pyramid’s height is 2, then dividing (24) by (26):
n
This angle is related with the apothem a and the P 2na  
R  tan 
polygon’s base edge x (Fig.8): y  a n
  x
tan   2   tan / n  ?
 2  2a    2
  /n
The perimeter of the polygonal pyramid is then
  The graph of ratio R (Fig. 9b) clearly shows again
P  n  x  2  n  a  tan  (24) that only for the square pyramid (n = 4) this ratio
n
have a value practically matching 2(Table 2).
Assuming a polygonal pyramid with perimeter P-
height ratio y equals to 2
2na  
 tan   2
y n  tan / n  
2

R 2 ( n)   
Solving for y:   /n 

n  
y  tan   a (25)
 n
If according with the Great Pyramid Golden Ratio
proportions hypothesis (15), the square of the ratio
between the height of the pyramid’s triangle and its
base length is equal to the golden ratio , the same (a)
is expected for the polygonal pyramid’s triangle:

 n /   tan / n   a 
2 2
 y
R2      
a  a 
2

 tan( / n)  ?
2

  
  /n 
R 

2 tan n 
 
The graph of R2 (Fig. 9a) clearly shows that only for n
the square pyramid (n = 4) this ratio has a value
very close to the golden ratio  (Table 1- (17)).
Similar graphs can be obtained using in the relations (b)
(16) or (18) the relation (25) solved for the height y
Fig. 9. (a) Behavior of the square of the ratio between the
or for the apothem a. These graphs will also show
height and base length of the pyramid’s
the fact that only the square pyramid geometry triangle
somehow relates pi and the golden ratio.
(b) Behavior of the ratio between the Perimeter of
Assuming now a polygonal pyramid with its interior the base and the Height of the pyramid
pyramid’s triangle having a ratio height-base equal Both ratios are expressed as functions of the
to the square root of the golden ratio (Fig. 4): number of sides (n) of the pyramid’s base.
y
 
a
y   a (26)

6
 Historical Note.
Conclusion.
It is said that the Great Pyramid of Giza is that last
From only the above mathematical analysis and
of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World
calculations, it is not possible to determine the
existing. This list of remarkable constructions was
criteria used by the ancient Egyptians to define the
compiled by Herodotus (484–424 BC), and later by
geometry and dimensions of the Great Pyramid: Pi
Callimachus of Cyrene (305–240 BC), and includes:
or the Golden Ratio . Both constants match the
Great Pyramid’s geometry with two or three  The Great Pyramid at Giza, Egypt.
decimals precision, but this is not enough to clarify  The Hanging Gardens of Babylon.
the question. Most of the specialists favor that the  The Statue of Zeus at Olympia, Greece.
Great Pyramid’s builders used Pi, because this  The Temple of Artemis at Ephesus.
constant is mentioned in ancient documents (24, 25),  The Mausoleum at Halicarnassus.
but it cannot be assured that the ancient Egyptians  The Colossus of Rhodes.
did not know the Golden Ratio.  The Lighthouse at Alexandria, Egypt.
It has been showed in this work that among all the
possible regular right pyramids, only the square
pyramid’s geometry relates algebraically two of the
most amazing mathematical constants, with two-
three decimals precision. Other authors have found
exact matching through transcendental functions or
infinite series (14, 16).
In conclusion, the how, what for, or why the Great
Pyramid was constructed, will be a topic open to
speculation and debate. The incredible precision in
the construction of this colossal structure will
always spark the curiosity and imagination of many.
Some will find something unnoticed by the
mainstream archeology, like hidden chambers (21),
others will find advanced technological uses like a
power plant (22), or coded cosmological values like
the radius of the earth and moon (23)…
The Great Pyramid of Giza is, and will be for a long
time, an open and exciting topic.

Fig. 10. The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World illustrated by

the Dutch artist Maarten van Heemskerck (1498-1574)
Image From: Wikipedia- Seven Wonders of the Ancient World

7
Annex 1. Pi, Phi, and the Construction of the Great In the Phi-Pyramid triangle this ratio is:
Pyramid
𝜙 √𝜙
=
√𝜙 1

The second triangle is built taking √𝜙 as its

hypotenuse length, and 1 as its long-leg length.
Compute with Pythagorean Theorem the length of
the short-leg: √𝜙 − 1. Then use the golden ratio
definition: 𝜙 2 + 𝜙 = 1, to find that:
1
√𝜙 − 1 =
√𝜙
A new triangle ABC is created joining the above
two triangles by the unit-side (Fig.11). To prove
relationship (27), it is used the basic property that
the sum of the interior angles of a triangle is always
180o or . It is only necessary now to prove that
ABC is a right triangle, finding that ∡𝐶 = 𝜋/2, and
that ∡𝐴 + ∡𝐵 = 𝜋/2.
Fig.11. A circle centered at the Queen’s Chamber, with
radius equal the distance from this chamber to the Using the Pythagorean Theorem:
Great Pyramid’s apex, contains the Great 2
Pyramid and a second proportional inverted 2
2 1
pyramid housing the Subterranean Chamber. 𝜙 + (√𝜙) = (√𝜙 + )
√𝜙
The expression: Doing some basic Algebra:
1 𝜋 1
𝑎𝑟𝑐𝑡𝑎𝑛 ( ) + 𝑎𝑟𝑐𝑡𝑎𝑛(√𝜙) = (27) 𝜙2 + 𝜙 = 𝜙 + 2 +
√𝜙 2 𝜙
was obtained empirically by Xerxes, J. (14) assuming 1
𝜙2 = 2 +
a second inverted pyramid housing the Subterranean 𝜙
Chamber. The above relationship can be obtained Using the property that the reciprocal of the golden
using the Phi- Pyramid Triangle (fig. 4), joint with a ratio is equal to the golden ratio minus 1:
second triangle with sides also in terms of the
Golden Ratio. Copying the Golden Ratio definition 𝜙2 = 2 + 𝜙 − 1
(Fig. 6), this second triangle is created using the 𝜙2 = 𝜙 + 1
large-short ratios hypotenuse:long-leg, and long-
leg:short-leg. But the above expression is the definition of the
Golden Ratio, then it has been proved that:
C ∡𝐶 = 𝜋/2 (28)
∡𝐴 + ∡𝐵 = 𝜋/2 (29)
  With basic trigonometry, it can be found (Fig.11):

1
tan(∡𝐴) =
A B √𝜙
 1
 tan(∡𝐵) = √𝜙
Fig. 11. Triangle ABC formed joining by the unit-length Then, using the inverse of tangent function to solve
side, the Phi-Pyramid triangle and a second right for the angles A and B, and substituting these values
triangle built using the height of the Phi-Pyramid in (29):
triangle as hypotenuse
∡𝐴 + ∡𝐵 = 𝜋/2

8
 1 𝜋 This is, taking the Great Pyramid’s triangle as the
𝑎𝑟𝑐𝑡𝑎𝑛 ( ) + 𝑎𝑟𝑐𝑡𝑎𝑛(√𝜙) = small one, joint with a new bigger proportional
√𝜙 2
triangle. The procedure can be repeated again with
This same expression can be found repeating the larger triangles, forming a spiral (Fig.12)
same procedure on a new composition of triangles
A final note. This composition of triangles is widely
with ratios:
used in photography to create artistic pictures (17, 18).
𝜙√𝜙 √𝜙 2 + 𝜙 𝜙 𝜙 √𝜙
= = , =
𝜙 𝜙 √𝜙 √𝜙 1

Fig.12. The composition of proportional right

triangles similar to the Great Pyramid’s
triangle form an spiral. The hypotenuses’
lengths and intersections with axis are
given as powers of  What kind of spiral
is this? (See solution in last page)

4

 9/2

3 2 5/ 2

 1/ 2
1
 5/ 2
1/ 2  1 / 2 3/ 2 7/2


3/ 2 2

7/2 4
 3

9
References.
(1). A. D. Godley- Herodotus, The Histories, Book
Chapter 124. Digital Edition.
www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper \
(2). World-Mysteries Blog: The Pyramid Tales – by
Herodotus.
http://blog.world- bmysteries.com/science/the-pyramid-
tales-by-herodotus/
(3) Encyclopedia Britannica: Pyramids of Giza. Digital
Edition.
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Pyramids-of-Giza
(4). Brier, Bob: How to Build a Pyramid. Archeology,
Volume 60 Number 3, May/June 2007. Digital Ed.
https://archive.archaeology.org/0705/etc/pyramid.html
(5). New World Encyclopedia. Great Pyramid of Giza.
http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Great_Pyram
id_of_Giza
(6). LiveScience. How Much Would It Cost to Build the
Great Pyramid Today?
https://www.livescience.com/18589-cost-build-great-
pyramid-today.html
(7). Dash, Glen; The Great Pyramid’s Footprint: Results
from Our 2015 Survey. AERAGRAM Ancient Egypt
Research Associates. Vol 16 No.2, Fall 2015.
http://dashfoundation.com/downloads/archaeology/as-
published/AERAGRAM16_2_GDash.pdf
(8). Meisner, Gary: Phi, Pi and the Great Pyramid of
Egypt at Giza. The Golden Number Net. Aug-2012
https://www.goldennumber.net/phi-pi-great-pyramid-
egypt/
(9). Tung, K.K. Topics in Mathematical Modeling.
Princeton University Press; 1st Edition 2007
(10). Gazale, Midhat: Gnomon, From Pharos to Fractals.
Princeton University Press 1999
(11). Livio, Mario: The Golden Ratio. Broadway Books,
New York, 2002
(12). Atalay, Bulent: Math and the Mona Lisa.
Smithsonian Books, Harper Collins Publishser
2006
(13). Beckmann, Petr: A History of Pi. 3rd Ed. Barnes &
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 Golden Spiral
𝜃 1
𝑟= 𝜙𝜋−2
Solution:
Using the general form of the spiral in polar Using the new value of a and the second point:
coordinates:
r   1/ 2C k / 2  1
r  aC k
and two points the curve pass through (Fig.12): C k / 2   1/ 2
  0, r   1/ 2 Matching the bases and exponents of these powers:
   / 2, r  1 k  1
C  
Using the first point in the spiral equation: 2 2
Then:
r  aC k0   1/ 2
r   1/ 2  / 
a   1/ 2

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