Pi Day: Difference between revisions

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Ok, the base tennstuff is OR, and the coincidences of births and deaths are NOT why the holiday exists!!!
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'''Pi Approximation Day''' is observed on [[July 22]] (22/7 in the ''day/month'' format), since the [[Fraction (mathematics)|fraction]] {{frac|22|7}} is a common [[Approximations of π|approximation of {{pi}}]], which is accurate to two decimal places and dates from [[Archimedes]].<ref name=VerizonTodayInHistory>{{cite web|title=Pi Approximation Day is celebrated today.|url=http://www.thinkfinity.org/2010-07-22_pi-approximation-day|work=Today In History|publisher=Verizon Foundation|accessdate=January 30, 2011}}</ref>
'''Pi Approximation Day''' is observed on [[July 22]] (22/7 in the ''day/month'' format), since the [[Fraction (mathematics)|fraction]] {{frac|22|7}} is a common [[Approximations of π|approximation of {{pi}}]], which is accurate to two decimal places and dates from [[Archimedes]].<ref name=VerizonTodayInHistory>{{cite web|title=Pi Approximation Day is celebrated today.|url=http://www.thinkfinity.org/2010-07-22_pi-approximation-day|work=Today In History|publisher=Verizon Foundation|accessdate=January 30, 2011}}</ref>


'''Two Pi Day''' or what some call '''Tau Day''' is lightly observed on [[June 28]] (6/28 in the ''day/month'' format).<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/pi-day-march-14-maths-google-doodle-pie-baking-celebrate-30-anniversary-a8254036.html|title=It's Pi Day today. But these people say we should refuse to celebrate it|date=2018-03-13|work=The Independent|access-date=2018-03-14|language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2013/03/031314-pi-day-exploratorium-mathematics-pie-science/|title=Pi Day Turns 25: Why We Celebrate an Irrational Number|date=2013-03-14|access-date=2018-03-14}}</ref>
'''Two Pi Day''' or what some call '''Tau Day''' is lightly observed on [[June 28]] (6/28 in the ''month/day'' format).<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/pi-day-march-14-maths-google-doodle-pie-baking-celebrate-30-anniversary-a8254036.html|title=It's Pi Day today. But these people say we should refuse to celebrate it|date=2018-03-13|work=The Independent|access-date=2018-03-14|language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2013/03/031314-pi-day-exploratorium-mathematics-pie-science/|title=Pi Day Turns 25: Why We Celebrate an Irrational Number|date=2013-03-14|access-date=2018-03-14}}</ref>


== History ==
== History ==

Revision as of 02:40, 15 March 2018

Pi Day
Larry Shaw, the organizer of the first Pi Day celebration at the Exploratorium in San Francisco.
Significance3, 1, and 4 are the three most significant figures of π
CelebrationsPie eating, discussions about π[1]
DateMarch 14
Next timeMarch 14, 2025 (2025-03-14)
FrequencyAnnual
Related toPi Approximation Day


Pi Day is an annual celebration of the mathematical constant π (pi). Pi Day is observed on March 14 (3/14 in the month/day format) since 3, 1, and 4 are the first three significant digits of π.[2][3] In 2009, the United States House of Representatives supported the designation of Pi Day.[4]

Pi Approximation Day is observed on July 22 (22/7 in the day/month format), since the fraction 227 is a common approximation of π, which is accurate to two decimal places and dates from Archimedes.[5]

Two Pi Day or what some call Tau Day is lightly observed on June 28 (6/28 in the month/day format).[6][7]

History

In 1988, the earliest known official or large-scale celebration of Pi Day was organized by Larry Shaw at the San Francisco Exploratorium,[8] where Shaw worked as a physicist,[9] with staff and public marching around one of its circular spaces, then consuming fruit pies.[10] The Exploratorium continues to hold Pi Day celebrations.[11]

On March 12, 2009, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a non-binding resolution (111 H. Res. 224),[4] recognizing March 14, 2009 as National Pi Day.[12] For Pi Day 2010, Google presented a Google Doodle celebrating the holiday, with the word Google laid over images of circles and pi symbols.[13]

The entire month of March 2014 (3/14) was observed by some as "Pi Month".[14][15] In the year 2015, Pi Day had special significance on 3/14/15 (month/day/year date format) at 9:26:53 a.m. and also at p.m., with the date and time representing the first 10 digits of π.[16]

Observance

Pi Day has been observed in many ways, including eating pie, throwing pies and discussing the significance of the number π, due to a pun based on the words "pi" and "pie" being homophones in English ( /p/), and the coincidental circular nature of a pie.[1][17]

Massachusetts Institute of Technology has often mailed its application decision letters to prospective students for delivery on Pi Day.[18] Starting in 2012, MIT has announced it will post those decisions (privately) online on Pi Day at exactly 6:28 pm, which they have called "Tau Time", to honor the rival numbers pi and tau equally.[19][20] In 2015, the regular decisions were put online at 9:26 AM, following that year's "pi moment".[21]

Princeton, New Jersey, hosts numerous events in a combined celebration of Pi Day and Albert Einstein's birthday, which is also March 14.[22] Einstein lived in Princeton for more than twenty years while working at the Institute for Advanced Study. In addition to pie eating and recitation contests, there is an annual Einstein look-alike contest.[22]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Landau, Elizabeth (March 12, 2010). "On Pi Day, one number 'reeks of mystery'". CNN. Retrieved March 14, 2018.
  2. ^ Bellos, Alex (March 14, 2015). "Pi Day 2015: a sweet treat for maths fans". theguardian.com. Retrieved March 14, 2016.
  3. ^ Program on Sveriges Radio – Swedish national radio company Read March 14, 2015
  4. ^ a b United States. Cong. House. Supporting the designation of Pi Day, and for other purposes. 111th Cong. Library of Congress.
  5. ^ "Pi Approximation Day is celebrated today". Today In History. Verizon Foundation. Retrieved January 30, 2011.
  6. ^ "It's Pi Day today. But these people say we should refuse to celebrate it". The Independent. March 13, 2018. Retrieved March 14, 2018.
  7. ^ "Pi Day Turns 25: Why We Celebrate an Irrational Number". March 14, 2013. Retrieved March 14, 2018.
  8. ^ Berton, Justin (March 11, 2009). "Any way you slice it, pi's transcendental". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved March 18, 2011.
  9. ^ Borwein, Jonathan (March 10, 2011). "The infinite appeal of pi". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved March 13, 2011.
  10. ^ Apollo, Adrian (March 10, 2007). "A place where learning pi is a piece of cake" (PDF). The Fresno Bee.
  11. ^ "Exploratorium 22nd Annual Pi Day". Exploratorium. Retrieved January 31, 2011.
  12. ^ McCullagh, Declan (March 11, 2009). "National Pi Day? Congress makes it official". Politics and Law. CNET News. Retrieved March 14, 2009.
  13. ^ "Pi Day". Google Doodles. Google. Retrieved October 9, 2012.
  14. ^ Main, Douglas (March 14, 2014). "It's Not Just Pi Day, It's Pi Month!". Popular Science. Retrieved July 22, 2014.
  15. ^ "Pi Month Celebration & Circle of Discovery Award Presentation | College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences". Cmns.umd.edu. March 11, 2014. Retrieved July 22, 2014.
  16. ^ Ro, Sam (March 13, 2014). "March 14, 2015 Will Be A Once-In-A-Century Thrill For Math Geeks". Business Insider. Retrieved March 13, 2014.
  17. ^ Smith, K.N. "Wednesday's Google Doodle Celebrates Pi Day".
  18. ^ McClan, Erin (March 14, 2007). "Pi fans meet March 14 (3.14, get it?)". msnbc.com. Retrieved January 24, 2008.
  19. ^ "I have SMASHING news!". MIT Admissions. Retrieved March 12, 2012.
  20. ^ McGann, Matt. "Pi Day, Tau Time". MIT Admissions. Retrieved March 18, 2012.
  21. ^ "Keep your eyes to the skies this Pi Day". MIT Admissions. Retrieved March 14, 2018.
  22. ^ a b "Princeton Pi Day & Einstein Birthday Party". Princeton Regional Convention and Visitors Bureau. Retrieved March 14, 2013.

External links