Pi Day
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Pi Day
Mar 14. A day to celebrate pi—the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter. Since that mathematical constant is about 3.14, Mar 14 became the day to observe it.
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Pi Day
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Pi Day
| Pi Day | |
|---|---|
 Larry Shaw, the organizer of the first Pi Day celebration 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 an unofficial 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]
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Contents
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History
The earliest known official or large-scale celebration of Pi Day was organized by Larry Shaw in 1988 at the San Francisco Exploratorium,[4] 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 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.[8]
For Pi Day 2010, Google presented a Google Doodle celebrating the holiday, with the word Google laid over images of circles and pi symbols.[9]
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.
Celebration
There are many ways of celebrating Pi Day. These include eating pie and discussing the significance of the number π.[1]
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology has often mailed its application decision letters to prospective students for delivery on Pi Day.[10] Starting in 2012, MIT has announced it will post those decisions (privately) online on Pi Day at exactly 6:28pm, which they have called "Tau Time", to honor the rival numbers Pi and Tau equally.[11][12]
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. 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.
There are also some serious critical observations by scientists that wind up examples of false celebrations on the web.[13] The New Scientist found several stimulating starting points for true mathematical celebrations.[14]
See also
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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "I have SMASHING news!". MIT Admissions. http://mitadmissions.org/blogs/entry/i-have-smashing-news. Retrieved 12 March 2012.
- ^ McGann, Matt. "Pi Day, Tau Time". MIT Admissions. http://mitadmissions.org/blogs/entry/pi-day-tau-time. Retrieved 18 March 2012.
- ^ "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.
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