Pi Day
| Pi Day | |
|---|---|
 Larry Shaw, the creator of Pi Day, at the Exploratorium | |
| Observed by | Worldwide |
| Type | Secular |
| Significance | 3, 1 and 4 are the three most significant figures of π |
| Date | March 14 |
| Celebrations | Pie eating, discussions about π |
| Related to | Pi Approximation Day |
| Part of a series of articles on |
| the mathematical constant π |
|---|
 |
| Uses |
| Area of disk · Circumference Use in other formulae |
| Properties |
| Irrationality · Transcendence Less than 22/7 |
| Value |
| Approximations · Memorization |
| People |
| Archimedes · Liu Hui · Zu Chongzhi Madhava of Sangamagrama William Jones · John Machin John Wrench |
| History |
| Chronology · Book |
| In culture |
| Legislation · Holiday |
| Related topics |
| Squaring the circle · Basel problem Other topics related to π |
Pi Day is a holiday commemorating the mathematical constant π (pi). Pi Day is celebrated on March 14 (or 3/14 in month/day date format), since 3, 1 and 4 are the three most significant digits of π in the decimal form. In 2009, the United States House of Representatives supported the designation of Pi Day.
Pi Approximation Day is held on July 22 (or 22/7 in day/month date format), since the fraction ⁄7 is a common approximation of π.
History
Larry Shaw created Pi Day in 1988. The holiday was celebrated at the San Francisco Exploratorium, where Shaw worked as a physicist, with staff and public marching around one of its circular spaces, then consuming fruit pies. The Exploratorium continues to hold Pi Day celebrations.
On Pi Day 2004, Daniel Tammet recited 22,514 decimal digits of π.
On March 12, 2009, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a non-binding resolution (HRES 224), recognizing March 14, 2009, as National Pi Day.
For Pi Day 2010, Google presented a Google Doodle celebrating the holiday, with the word Google laid over images of circles and pi symbols.
Date abstractions from pi
Pi Day is observed on March 14 because of the date's representation as 3/14 in month/day date format. This representation adheres to the commonly used approximation of 3.14 for π.
The fractional approximation of π ,⁄7, resembles the date July 22 in the day/month format, where it is written 22/7. Pi Approximation Day is therefore celebrated on July 22.
In 2015, Pi Day will reflect five digits of π (3.1415) as 3/14/15 in month/day/year date format.
Celebration
There are many ways of celebrating Pi Day. Some of them include eating pie (pi and pie being homophones) and discussing the relevance of π.
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology often mails its application decision letters to prospective students for delivery on Pi Day.
See also
Notes
External links
- Official web site for Pi Day
- Exploratorium's Pi Day Web Site
- NPR provides a "Pi Rap" audiovideo
- Pi Day Activity - Memorizing Pi
- Pi Day Challenge - Students have fun with math and logic!
Retrieved from : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pi_Day
