Pi (π), the mathematical constant that when multiplied by a circle’s diameter gives the circumference, is an irrational number, a nonrepeating decimal that begins 3.14159 and goes from there. As Friday is March 14 (3-14), many US schools conduct a variety of π-Day festivities.
Some real enthusiasts even celebrate π Minute, which occurs at 1:59 PM, local time of the celebration. If you want to get even craizier, the next two digits are “26,” so I suppose that would put π Second officially between 1:59:26 and 1:59:27 PM.
Some bake pies. Some walk around circular gardens. The March 2007 issue of Student Math Notes explored the circle and features several ideas for π-Day activities.
And some very logical people have developed a “Pi Day Challenge,” which you can take online. The challenge is a series of puzzles, and according to the website, “some require research, some require mathematics, some require pure savvy.”
But one of the most interesting articles I’ve read about π is entitled “How to Calculate π by Throwing Frozen Hot Dogs (with Cheat Sheet).” It was written about six years ago by more than 50 contributing editors, but hot dogs are timeless.
How will you celebrate π Day?
