Pi Day
| Pi Day | |
|---|---|
 Larry Shaw, the organizer of the first Pi Day celebration at the Exploratorium in San Francisco | |
| Significance | 3, 1, and 4 are the three most significant figures of π |
| Celebrations | Pie eating, discussions about π[1] |
| Date | March 14 |
| Next time | March 14, 2025 |
| Frequency | annual |
| Related to | Pi Approximation Day |
| Part of a series of articles on the |
| mathematical constant π |
|---|
| 3.1415926535897932384626433... |
| Uses |
| Properties |
| Value |
| People |
| History |
| In culture |
| Related topics |
Pi Day is an annual United States celebration of the mathematical constant π (pi). Pi Day is observed on March 14 (3/14 in the month/day date format) since 3, 1, and 4 are the first three significant digits of π.[2][3][4][5] In 2009, the United States House of Representatives supported the designation of Pi Day.[6]
Pi Approximation Day is observed on July 22 (22/7 in the day/month date format), since the fraction 22⁄7 is a common approximation of π, which is accurate to two decimal places and dates from Archimedes.[7]
History
The earliest known official or large-scale celebration of Pi Day was organized by Larry Shaw in 1988 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 (HRES 224),[6] 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 (mm/dd/yy 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] That same second also contained a precise instant corresponding to all of the digits of π.[17]
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 ( /paɪ/), as well as pies tending to be round, and thus related to π.[1] Some schools hold competitions as to which student can recall pi to the highest number of decimal places.[18][19]
Massachusetts Institute of Technology has often mailed its application decision letters to prospective students for delivery on Pi Day.[20] 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.[21][22] In 2015, the regular decisions were put online at 9:26 AM, following that year's "pi moment".[23]
The town of Princeton, New Jersey, hosts numerous events in a combined celebration of Pi Day and Albert Einstein's birthday, which is also March 14.[24] 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.[25]
See also
References
- ^ a b Landau, Elizabeth (2010-03-12). "On Pi Day, one number 'reeks of mystery'", CNN. Retrieved on 2010-03-14 from http://www.cnn.com/2010/TECH/03/12/pi.day.math/index.html.
- ^ Dagens Nyheter - Article in the biggest Swedish newspaper Read 2015-03-14
- ^ Liber - a big Swedish school book publisher Read 2015-03-14
- ^ Program on Sveriges Radio - Swedish national radio company Read 2015-03-14
- ^ "American Pi: Why the Day Belongs to the U.S. (and Belize)". scientificamerican.com.
- ^ 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. Retrieved January 30, 2011.
- ^ Berton, Justin (March 11, 2009). "Any way you slice it, pi's transcendental". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved March 18, 2011.
- ^ Jonathan Borwein (March 10, 2011). "The infinite appeal of pi". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved March 13, 2011.
- ^ Adrian Apollo (March 10, 2007). "A place where learning pi is a piece of cake" (PDF). The Fresno Bee.
- ^ "Exploratorium 22nd Annual Pi Day". Exploratorium. Retrieved January 31, 2011.
- ^ McCullagh, Declan (March 11, 2009). "National Pi Day? Congress makes it official". Politics and Law. CNET News. Retrieved March 14, 2009.
- ^ "Pi Day". Google Doodles. Google. Retrieved October 9, 2012.
- ^ By Douglas Main (March 14, 2014). "It's Not Just Pi Day, It's Pi Month! | Popular Science". Popsci.com. Retrieved July 22, 2014.
- ^ "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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Rosenthal, Jeffrey S. (October 2014). "Pi Instant". Retrieved October 23, 2014.
- ^ "Honiton Community College Pi Day - Jazmin Year 9". YouTube. Retrieved July 22, 2013.
- ^ "HCC Celebrate International Pi Day". Honitoncollege.devon.sch.uk. Retrieved July 22, 2013.
- ^ McClan, Erin (March 14, 2007). "Pi fans meet March 14 (3.14, get it?)". msnbc.com. Retrieved January 24, 2008.
- ^ "I have SMASHING news!". MIT Admissions. Retrieved March 12, 2012.
- ^ McGann, Matt. "Pi Day, Tau Time". MIT Admissions. Retrieved March 18, 2012.
- ^ http://mitadmissions.org/blogs/entry/keep-your-eyes-to-the-skies
- ^ "Princeton Pi Day & Einstein Birthday Party". Princeton Regional Convention and Visitors Bureau. Retrieved December 27, 2012.
- ^ "Princeton Pi Day & Einstein Birthday Party". Princeton Regional Convention and Visitors Bureau. Retrieved March 14, 2013.
External links
