Are you celebrating Pi Day?
Written in the USA date format, March 14 is an unofficial celebration for Pi Day derived from the common three-digit approximation for the number π: 3.14. It is usually celebrated at 1:59 PM (in recognition of the six-digit approximation: 3.14159). Some, using a twenty-four-hour clock rather than a twelve-hour clock, say that 1:59 PM is actually 13:59 and celebrate it at 1:59 AM or 3:09 PM (15:09) instead. Parties have been held by the mathematics departments of various schools around the world.
This day is celebrated in a variety of ways. Groups of people, such as maths or science based clubs, might gather to consider the role that the number π has played in their lives and to imagine the world without π. During such an event, pi celebrants may devise alternative values for π, eat pie, play piñata, drink piña Colada, eat pineapple) or watch Pi. The shape of the pie is sometimes square, due to the pronunciation of the equation of a circle = πr2, i.e. "pie are squared."
Enthusiasts also note that the day happens to be Albert Einstein's birthday. (See March 14th births for a list of other people with this birthday.) It's also curious to note that the renowned science and technology university MIT, known as widely for its unconventional, quirky take on maths as for its extremely high academic standards and low acceptance rates, often mails out its acceptance letters to be delivered to prospective students on Pi Day.
The "ultimate" pi moment occurred on March 14, 1592, at 6:53 AM and 58 seconds. When written in American-style date format, this is 3/14/1592 6:53.58, which corresponds to the value of pi to twelve digits: 3.14159265358. However, considering this was well before any kind of standardized world time had been established, and the general public had no concept of π, the occurrence likely went unnoticed.
I think I'll bake a cake.
This day is celebrated in a variety of ways. Groups of people, such as maths or science based clubs, might gather to consider the role that the number π has played in their lives and to imagine the world without π. During such an event, pi celebrants may devise alternative values for π, eat pie, play piñata, drink piña Colada, eat pineapple) or watch Pi. The shape of the pie is sometimes square, due to the pronunciation of the equation of a circle = πr2, i.e. "pie are squared."
Enthusiasts also note that the day happens to be Albert Einstein's birthday. (See March 14th births for a list of other people with this birthday.) It's also curious to note that the renowned science and technology university MIT, known as widely for its unconventional, quirky take on maths as for its extremely high academic standards and low acceptance rates, often mails out its acceptance letters to be delivered to prospective students on Pi Day.
The "ultimate" pi moment occurred on March 14, 1592, at 6:53 AM and 58 seconds. When written in American-style date format, this is 3/14/1592 6:53.58, which corresponds to the value of pi to twelve digits: 3.14159265358. However, considering this was well before any kind of standardized world time had been established, and the general public had no concept of π, the occurrence likely went unnoticed.
I think I'll bake a cake.