Pi Day
| Pi Day | |
|---|---|
 Larry Shaw, the creator of Pi Day, at the Exploratorium |
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| 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 [1] |
| Related to | Pi Approximation Day |
| Part of a series of articles on |
| the mathematical constant π |
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| Uses |
| Properties |
| Value |
| People |
| History |
| In culture |
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| Related topics |
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.[2]
Pi Approximation Day is held on July 22 (or 22/7 in day/month date format), since the fraction 22⁄7 is a common approximation of π.[3]
Contents |
[edit] History
Larry Shaw created Pi Day in 1988.[4] The holiday was celebrated at the San Francisco Exploratorium, where Shaw worked as a physicist,[5] with staff and public marching around one of its circular spaces, then consuming fruit pies.[6] The Exploratorium continues to hold Pi Day celebrations.[7]
On Pi Day 2004, Daniel Tammet recited 22,514 decimal digits of π.[8]
On March 12, 2009, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a non-binding resolution (HRES 224),[2] recognizing March 14, 2009, as National Pi Day.[9]
For Pi Day 2010, Google presented a Google Doodle celebrating the holiday, with the word Google laid over images of circles and pi symbols.[10]
At 9:26:53 on Pi Day 2015, the date will be 3/14/15 at 9:26:53, corresponding to 3.141592653.
[edit] 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,22⁄7, 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.
[edit] Celebration
There are many ways of celebrating Pi Day. Some of them include eating pie and discussing the relevance of π.[1]
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology often mails its application decision letters to prospective students for delivery on Pi Day.[11]
The town of Princeton, NJ hosts numerous events in a combined celebration of Pi Day and Albert Einstein's birthday, which is also March 14. Einstein lived in Princeton for over twenty years while teaching at the Institute for Advanced Study. In addition to pie eating and recitation contests, there is an annual Einstein look-alike contest.
There are also some serious critical observations by scientists that wind up examples of false celebrations you find on the web.[12] The New Scientist found several stimulating starting points for true mathematical celebrations.[13]
[edit] See also
[edit] Notes
- ^ a b Landau, Elizabeth (March 12, 2010). "On Pi Day, one number 'reeks of mystery'", CNN. Retrieved 2010-03-14.
- ^ a b United States. Cong. House. Supporting the designation of Pi Day, and for other purposes. 111th Cong. Library of Congress.
- ^ "Pi Approximation Day is celebrated today.". Today In History. Verizon Foundation. http://www.thinkfinity.org/2010-07-22_pi-approximation-day. Retrieved 30 January 2011.
- ^ Berton, Justin (March 11, 2009). "Any way you slice it, pi's transcendental". San Francisco Chronicle. http://articles.sfgate.com/2009-03-11/entertainment/17211858_1_pi-day-pi-shrine-einstein-s-birthday. Retrieved 2011-03-18.
- ^ Jonathan Borwein (10 March 2011). "The infinite appeal of pi". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2011/03/10/3158045.htm?site=science/opinion. Retrieved 13 March 2011.
- ^ Adrian Apollo (March 10, 2007). "A place where learning pi is a piece of cake". The Fresno Bee. http://apollotutoring.com/pi_day.pdf.
- ^ "Exploratorium 22nd Annual Pi Day". Exploratorium. http://www.exploratorium.edu/pi/index.html. Retrieved 31 January 2011.
- ^ Bank, Alan (March 13, 2009)." Pi Queen holds throne", Daily Pilot. Retrieved 2010-03-14.
- ^ McCullagh, Declan (March 11, 2009). "National Pi Day? Congress makes it official". Politics and Law (CNET News). http://news.cnet.com/8301-13578_3-10194354-38.html?part=rss&subj=news&tag=2547-1_3-0-5. Retrieved 2009-03-14.
- ^ "Google Doodles: 2010 January - March". Google Doodles. Google. http://www.google.com/logos/logos10-1.html. Retrieved 30 January 2011.
- ^ McClan, Erin (March 14, 2007). "Pi fans meet March 14 (3.14, get it?)". msnbc.com. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17605924/. Retrieved 2008-01-24.
- ^ "Pi Day". Math Goes Pop!. March 11th, 2009. http://www.mathgoespop.com/2009/03/pi-day.html. Retrieved March 07, 2012.
- ^ Jacob Aron (March 12, 2010). "Pi day: Five tasty facts about the famous ratio". New Scientist. http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn18649-pi-day-five-tasty-facts-about-the-famous-ratio.html. Retrieved March 07, 2012.
[edit] External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Pi Day |
- 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!
- piZone Pi education, history and activities including National Pi Day & Pi approximation day
- The Pi Searcher Search for arbitrary digits in Pi. Often updated with new features on Pi Day.
- "A Piece of Pi" Music based on Pi for violin composed for Pi Day to honor Math teachers.
- Website dedicated to the Number Pi.
