The Mathematical Calender:
Pi Day
I am back with the third entry in my series. This time I refer not to an academic event but to a day that has been, very slowly, becoming more publicly recognised in recent years: Pi day, the 14th of March.
Pi Day: 14th March
Pi day celebrates the mathematical constant pi, 3.14159.... . As an irrational number its digits go on forever without repeating in any discernible pattern, and its significance comes from being the ratio of a circles circumference to its diameter. As such it appears throughout equations in mathematics and science whenever they involve circles, spheres, and by extension curves, in some fashion.
Pi day was first "officially" celebrated in 1988 by the Physicist Larry Shaw at the San Francisco Exploratorium. The day was celebrated by leading people around in circular patterns or circular rooms, and by eating fruit pies.
In the UK activities tend to be limited to schools, universities, and interest groups. However in the US, where the day is much more popular, some Museums will host events or promotions in recognition of the date.
Activities on Pi day tend to involve talks or presentations on the significance of the number with regards to mathematics and to day to day life, or otherwise they involve doing tasks that relate to the number itself, for example cycling or walking 3.14 miles on the day. The consumption of pies is another very popular custom on Pi day, and it is certainly one of the most easily enjoyable and accessible ways to recognise the date!
While attention to the day has slowly been growing in recent years, expect a lot more recognition of Pi day online and in the news than at a location in your local area, unless you happen to live in the US.
Extra:
The inspiration for a day dedicated to Pi came from America because, whereas in the UK the convention is to write the date as DD/MM/YYYY, in America the date is written in the format MM/DD/YYYY. As such March 14th in America is written 03/14, and as the first 3 digits of the number Pi are 3.14 the day became associated with Pi. This is why the idea of officially celebrating Pi originated in America, and this is why Pi day has become a much more popular event in the US, where the date was formally recognised as "National Pi Day" in 2009, than in the UK.
As a side note: the 14th March is also Einstein's birthday.
Pi Day: 14th March
Pi day celebrates the mathematical constant pi, 3.14159.... . As an irrational number its digits go on forever without repeating in any discernible pattern, and its significance comes from being the ratio of a circles circumference to its diameter. As such it appears throughout equations in mathematics and science whenever they involve circles, spheres, and by extension curves, in some fashion.
Pi day was first "officially" celebrated in 1988 by the Physicist Larry Shaw at the San Francisco Exploratorium. The day was celebrated by leading people around in circular patterns or circular rooms, and by eating fruit pies.
In the UK activities tend to be limited to schools, universities, and interest groups. However in the US, where the day is much more popular, some Museums will host events or promotions in recognition of the date.
Activities on Pi day tend to involve talks or presentations on the significance of the number with regards to mathematics and to day to day life, or otherwise they involve doing tasks that relate to the number itself, for example cycling or walking 3.14 miles on the day. The consumption of pies is another very popular custom on Pi day, and it is certainly one of the most easily enjoyable and accessible ways to recognise the date!
While attention to the day has slowly been growing in recent years, expect a lot more recognition of Pi day online and in the news than at a location in your local area, unless you happen to live in the US.
Extra:
The inspiration for a day dedicated to Pi came from America because, whereas in the UK the convention is to write the date as DD/MM/YYYY, in America the date is written in the format MM/DD/YYYY. As such March 14th in America is written 03/14, and as the first 3 digits of the number Pi are 3.14 the day became associated with Pi. This is why the idea of officially celebrating Pi originated in America, and this is why Pi day has become a much more popular event in the US, where the date was formally recognised as "National Pi Day" in 2009, than in the UK.
As a side note: the 14th March is also Einstein's birthday.
If you know of any events relating to mathematics then I'd love to know, it doesn't matter what county its in, just let me know by leaving a comment!
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