Every year on March 14th, the world comes together to celebrate Pi Day! This special day is in honor of the mathematical constant Pi, which is represented by the Greek letter π. Pi is used to represent the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter, and is necessary to solve problems in fields such as engineering, architecture, robotics, and physics.
π is a mathematical constant, which means it is a symbol that represents a fixed value. π is also an irrational number, which means it has a decimal that does not end, and has no repeating pattern. So far, over 50 trillion digits past the decimal point have been calculated for π! But if you enter π into a calculator, you will just get the first 10 digits – 3.141592654.
The History of Pi Day
Pi Day was first celebrated in 1988 by physicist Larry Shaw, an employee at the Exploratorium, a science museum in San Francisco. March 14th was chosen as Pi Day because the date, written as 3/14 in the month/day format, matches the first three digits of π (3.14).
March 14th also happens to be the birthday of renowned physicist Albert Einstein, which adds another layer to the celebration of mathematics and science on this day!
How do we use Pi?
Have you ever looked at a circle and wondered how to figure out how big it is? That is where we use π.
π tells us how many times the diameter of a circle fits around it. The diameter is the distance across the circle at its largest point, from one side to the other, and the circumference is the distance all the way around the circle. If we know the diameter, we can use π to figure out the circumference.
Simply take the diameter, multiply it by π, and you will have your answer!
Suggestions for Celebrating Pi Day
Just like the decimal places in π, there are endless ways to celebrate Pi Day, either at home or in the classroom! Here are just a few ideas:
- Pi Counting Contest: Have students participate in a π counting contest, and see who can list the most decimal places in the correct order! The current world record is held by a student from the Vellore Institute of Technology in India, who counted to 70,000 decimal places!
- Measure and Enjoy a Pie: A fun and delicious way to get students interested in Pi Day is with an actual pie! Enjoy a pizza pie or a dessert pie, but before you dig in, have your students calculate the circumference of the pie using π!
- Expand your Knowledge: Celebrating and learning about π is also a great opportunity to expand your knowledge in other areas of math and science! TryEngineering has you covered with our lessons exploring algorithms: Fun with Sorting and Complexity – It’s Simple!