Happy International Pi Day! Created 30 years ago today by physicist Larry Shaw, Pi Day is now a much-loved worldwide celebration of everybody’s favorite mathematical constant, 3.14 – and an excuse for science geeks, math nerds, and innovators everywhere to share their love of math in fun, quirky ways.
So what’s pi, anyway?
Pi represents the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter, thus making it a critical part of mathematics and geometry. Represented by the Greek letter “π,” pi is the symbol used represent a constant – or approximately 3.14159.
Additionally, pi is an irrational and transcendental number, meaning the exact value of pi is unknowable, as it has an infinite number of digits that never repeat. Computer makers have put their machines to the job of calculating the definite value of pi, going back to the earliest days of UNIVAC and others, with no success.
Pi has been a part of human knowledge for centuries. Texts from the Egyptians, the Babylonians, and even the Bible reference pi. However, the very first accurate calculation of pi as 3.14 is attributed to the Greek mathematician Archimedes, in the 3rd century B.C.
Pi Day celebrations
Pi Day celebrations are, like we said, fun and quirky, and often circular in some way or another. The first Pi Day celebration at the San Francisco science museum The Exploratorium (Larry Shaw’s place of work), featured a circular parade and lots of fruit pies.
Since then, other fun Pi Day traditions have expanded to include eating other circular shaped foods like pizza, dressing like Albert Einstein, who shared his birthday with Pi Day, and tackling math challenges. Sometimes, though, even sports teams and athletes get in on the celebrations in their own ways.
To find out more about Pi Day (and even pick up a stylish t-shirt), visit its website.
A (pi) day everyone should honor
Perhaps most importantly of all, Pi Day is a great time to focus on the importance of STEM (Science Technology Engineering Mathematics) to our society. STEM occupations are growing at 17%, and STEM degree holders have a higher income even in non-STEM careers, according to the U. S. Department of Commerce. Additionally, experts predict over 80% of all jobs will require STEM skills in the future.
STEM education hones critical thinking and leads to the creation, innovation, and ingenuity of new products, services, and advancements that help push society forward. On this Pi Day, we’d encourage you to encourage a young innovator to embrace STEM with a fun math puzzle – and then enjoy a follow-up reward with some delicious pie!
However you join in or spread the word about Pi Day, it’s an event everybody should celebrate.
