Pi Day

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Short description: Annual mathematical celebration on March 14
Pi Day
Larry Shaw, the founder of Pi Day, at the Exploratorium in San Francisco--2007 March 21.jpg
Larry Shaw, the organizer of the first Pi Day celebration, at the Exploratorium in San Francisco
Observed byUnited States
TypeMathematical
Significance3, 1, and 4 are the three most significant figures of π in its decimal representation.
DateMarch 14
Next timeMarch 14, 2026 (2026-03-14)
FrequencyAnnual
First time1988
Related toPi Approximation Day


Pi Day is an annual celebration of the mathematical constant π (pi). Pi Day is observed on March 14 (the 3rd month) since 3, 1, and 4 are the first three significant figures of π, and was first celebrated in the United States.[1][2] It was founded in 1988 by Larry Shaw, an employee of a science museum in San Francisco, the Exploratorium. Celebrations often involve eating pie or holding pi recitation competitions. In 2009, the United States House of Representatives supported the designation of Pi Day.[3] UNESCO's 40th General Conference designated Pi Day as the International Day of Mathematics in November 2019.[4][5]

Other dates when people celebrate pi include Pi Approximation Day on July 22 (22/7 in the day/month format, an approximation of π) and June 28 (6.28, an approximation of 2π or tau).

History

In 1988, the earliest known official or large-scale celebration of Pi Day was organized by Larry Shaw at the San Francisco Exploratorium,[6] where Shaw worked as a physicist,[7] with staff and public marching around one of its circular spaces, then consuming fruit pies.[8] The Exploratorium continues to hold Pi Day celebrations.[9]

On March 12, 2009, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a non-binding resolution (111 H. Res. 224),[3] recognizing March 14, 2009, as National Pi Day.[10] For Pi Day 2010, Google presented a Google Doodle celebrating the holiday, with the word Google laid over images of circles and pi symbols;[11] and for the 30th anniversary in 2018, it was a Dominique Ansel pie with the circumference divided by its diameter.[12]

Some observed the entire month of March 2014 (3/14) as "Pi Month".[13][14] In the year 2015, March 14 was celebrated as "Super Pi Day".[15] It had special significance, as the date is written as 3/14/15 in month/day/year format. At 9:26:53, the date and time together represented the first ten digits of π,[16] and later that second, "Pi Instant" represented all of π's digits.[17]

Observance

Pi Day related offering at Delicious Orchards, a country food market in Colts Neck, New Jersey

Pi Day has been observed in many ways, including eating pie, throwing pies and discussing the significance of the number π.[18] The first two are due to a pun based on the words "pi" and "pie" being homophones in English ( /paɪ/), and the coincidental circular shape of many pies.[19][20] Many pizza and pie restaurants offer discounts, deals, and free products on Pi Day.[21] Also, some schools hold competitions as to which student can recall pi to the highest number of decimal places.[22][23]

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology has often mailed its application decision letters to prospective students for delivery on Pi Day.[24] 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.[25][26] In 2015, the regular decisions were put online at 9:26 am, following that year's "pi minute",[27] and in 2020, regular decisions were released at 1:59 pm, making the first six digits of pi.[28]

Princeton, New Jersey, hosts numerous events in a combined celebration of Pi Day and Albert Einstein's birthday, which is also March 14.[29] 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.[29]

In 2024, the recreational mathematician Matt Parker and a team of hundreds of volunteers at City of London School spent six days calculating 139 correct digits of pi by hand, in what Parker claimed was "the biggest hand calculation in a century".[30][31] On 15 August 2024, the main-belt asteroid 314159 Mattparker[lower-alpha 1] was named in his honor. The citation highlights Parker's biennial "Pi Day challenges", stating that they have helped to popularize mathematics.[32][33]

Alternative dates

Pi Approximation Day is often observed on July 22 (22/7), though this circle is not perfect at illustrating pi.

Pi Day is frequently observed on March 14 (3/14 in the month/day date format), but related celebrations have been held on alternative dates.

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.[34] In Indonesia, a country that uses the DD/MM/YYYY date format, some people celebrate Pi Day every July 22.[35]

Tau Day, also known as Two-Pi Day,[36] is observed on June 28 (6/28 in the month/day format).[37] The number [[Physics:Turn (angle)#Tau proposals|Template:Tau]], denoted by the Greek letter tau, is the ratio of a circle's circumference to its radius; it equals 2π, a common multiple in mathematical formulae, and approximately equals 6.28. Some have argued that Template:Tau is the clearer and more fundamental constant and that Tau Day should be celebrated alongside or instead of Pi Day.[38][39][40] Celebrants of this date jokingly suggest eating "twice the pie".[41][42][43]

Some also celebrate pi on November 10, since it is the 314th day of the year (in leap years, on November 9).[44]

Gallery

  • Pi Pie at Delft University

  • A grocery store selling pies for $3.14 on Pi Day

  • Creme pie in celebration of Pi day showing the Greek letter and the first digits of Pi.

See also

  • Lists of holidays
  • Sequential time
  • Square Root Day
  • Doomsday rule – Way of calculating the day of the week of a given date
  • Programmers' Day

Notes

  1. ↑ 314159 are the first six digits of Pi.

References

  1. ↑ Bellos, Alex (March 14, 2015). "Pi Day 2015: a sweet treat for maths fans". https://www.theguardian.com/science/2015/mar/13/pi-day-celebration-maths-fans-language-memory-contests. 
  2. ↑ "Nedräkning mot internationella Pi-dagen" (in sv). March 14, 2015. http://sverigesradio.se/sida/avsnitt/514543?programid=412. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 United States. Cong. House. Supporting the designation of Pi Day, and for other purposes. 111th Cong. Library of Congress
  4. ↑ "International Day of Mathematics" (in en). March 4, 2020. https://en.unesco.org/commemorations/mathematics. 
  5. ↑ Rousseau, Christiane (September 1, 2019). "International Day of Mathematics". Notices of the American Mathematical Society 66 (8): 1. doi:10.1090/noti1928. https://www.ams.org/journals/notices/201908/rnoti-p1306.pdf. 
  6. ↑ Berton, Justin (March 11, 2009). "Any way you slice it, pi's transcendental". https://www.sfgate.com/science/article/Any-way-you-slice-it-pi-s-transcendental-3169091.php. 
  7. ↑ Borwein, Jonathan (March 10, 2011). "The infinite appeal of pi". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2011/03/10/3158045.htm?site=science/opinion. 
  8. ↑ Apollo, Adrian (March 10, 2007). "A place where learning pi is a piece of cake". The Fresno Bee. http://apollotutoring.com/pi_day.pdf. 
  9. ↑ "Exploratorium 22nd Annual Pi Day". Exploratorium. http://www.exploratorium.edu/pi/index.html. 
  10. ↑ 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. 
  11. ↑ "Pi Day". https://doodles.google/doodle/pi-day/. 
  12. ↑ "30th Anniversary of Pi Day!" (in en). https://doodles.google/doodle/30th-anniversary-of-pi-day/. 
  13. ↑ Main, Douglas (March 14, 2014). "It's Not Just Pi Day, It's Pi Month!". Popular Science. http://www.popsci.com/article/science/its-not-just-pi-day-its-pi-month. Retrieved July 22, 2014. 
  14. ↑ "Pi Month Celebration & Circle of Discovery Award Presentation | College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences". College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences. Cmns.umd.edu. March 11, 2014. http://cmns.umd.edu/news-events/events/1774. 
  15. ↑ Mack, Eric (March 14, 2015). "Celebrate The Only Super Pi Day Of The Century" (in en). https://www.forbes.com/sites/ericmack/2015/03/14/happy-super-pi-day-heres-how-to-celebrate/. 
  16. ↑ Ro, Sam (March 13, 2014). "March 14, 2015 Will Be A Once-In-A-Century Thrill For Math Geeks". http://www.businessinsider.com/pi-day-2015-2014-3. 
  17. ↑ Rosenthal, Jeffrey S. (February 2015). "Pi Instant". Math Horizons 22 (3): 22. doi:10.4169/mathhorizons.22.3.22. http://probability.ca/jeff/writing/PiInstant.html. 
  18. ↑ Anderson, Curt (March 14, 2024). "What's Pi Day all about? Math, science, pies and more". Associated Press. https://apnews.com/article/pi-day-celebration-math-infinite-number-f426c8659529cb07655b5f07b99ce1dd. 
  19. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named landau
  20. ↑ Smith, K.N.. "Wednesday's Google Doodle Celebrates Pi Day". https://www.forbes.com/sites/kionasmith/2018/03/14/wednesdays-google-doodle-celebrates-pi-day/. 
  21. ↑ "Celebrate Pi Day With These Deals Around North Texas". NBC DFW. March 13, 2021. https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/celebrate-pi-day-with-these-deals-around-north-texas/2578077/. 
  22. ↑ "Honiton Community College Pi Day – Jazmin Year 9". YouTube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfM1i9_Un_Y). 
  23. ↑ "HCC Celebrate International Pi Day". Honitoncollege.devon.sch.uk. http://www.honitoncollege.devon.sch.uk/index.php/about-honiton-community-college/10-honiton-community-college-news/146-hcc-international-pi-day-champions. 
  24. ↑ McClan, Erin (March 14, 2007). "Pi fans meet March 14 (3.14, get it?)". NBC News. http://www.nbcnews.com/id/17605924. 
  25. ↑ "I have SMASHING news!". MIT Admissions. March 7, 2012. http://mitadmissions.org/blogs/entry/i-have-smashing-news. 
  26. ↑ McGann, Matt (March 13, 2012). "Pi Day, Tau Time". MIT Admissions. http://mitadmissions.org/blogs/entry/pi-day-tau-time. 
  27. ↑ "Keep your eyes to the skies this Pi Day" (in en). MIT Admissions. March 6, 2015. http://mitadmissions.org/blogs/entry/keep-your-eyes-to-the-skies. 
  28. ↑ "[Pinned This is the way...to check your decisions"] (in en-US). March 10, 2020. https://mitadmissions.org/blogs/entry/this-is-the-way-to-check-your-decisions/. 
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 "Princeton Pi Day & Einstein Birthday Party". https://www.visitprinceton.org/events/annual-events/pi-day/. 
  30. ↑ Matt Parker (13 March 2024). The biggest hand calculation in a century! [Pi Day 2024] (video). London. Retrieved 1 July 2024 – via YouTube.
  31. ↑ Crawford, Tom (4 April 2024), Carnival of Mathematics 226, The Aperiodical, https://tomrocksmaths.com/2024/04/04/carnival-of-mathematics-226/, retrieved 30 August 2024 
  32. ↑ International Astronomical Union (15 August 2024). "New Names of Minor Planets". WGSBN Bulletin 4 (11). https://www.wgsbn-iau.org/files/Bulletins/V004/WGSBNBull_V004_011.pdf#page=20. Retrieved 15 August 2024. "Matthew Thomas Parker (b. 1980) is an Australian recreational mathematician, author, and science communicator based in the United Kingdom. His “Stand-up Maths” YouTube channel has gained more than one million subscribers. Parker's Pi Day (March 14) challenges, where he calculates (by hand) π with the help of volunteers, have popularized mathematics.". 
  33. ↑ Parker, Matt (14 March 2011). "Pi Day: Help yourself to a slice of infinite, transcendental pi". The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/science/blog/2011/mar/14/pi-day. 
  34. ↑ "Pi Approximation Day is celebrated today". Verizon Foundation. http://www.thinkfinity.org/2010-07-22_pi-approximation-day. 
  35. ↑ Purworini, D. (2016). Pi Day celebration by local scientists in Indonesia. 7. Anak Sudarti Foundation Bulletin. pp. 7–8. 
  36. ↑ Pavel, Elizabeth (March 13, 2017). "Celebrating Pi Day 2017… and More!". Lam Research. https://newsroom.lamresearch.com/Celebrating-Pi-Day-2017-and-More. 
  37. ↑ "Tau Day: Why you should eat twice the pie". https://lightyears.blogs.cnn.com/2012/06/28/tau-day-why-you-should-eat-twice-the-pie/. 
  38. ↑ "It's Pi Day today. But these people say we should refuse to celebrate it" (in en-GB). The Independent. March 13, 2018. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/pi-day-march-14-maths-google-doodle-pie-baking-celebrate-30-anniversary-a8254036.html. 
  39. ↑ "Pi Day Turns 25: Why We Celebrate an Irrational Number". March 14, 2013. https://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2013/03/031314-pi-day-exploratorium-mathematics-pie-science/. 
  40. ↑ BMJ (June 22, 2018). "Jeffrey Aronson: When I use a word ... The Days of Pi" (in en-US). https://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2018/06/22/jeffrey-aronson-when-i-use-a-word-the-days-of-pi/. 
  41. ↑ Bartholomew, Randyn Charles (in en). Why Tau Trumps Pi. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/let-s-use-tau-it-s-easier-than-pi/. 
  42. ↑ Landau, Elizabeth. "In case Pi Day wasn't enough, it's now 'Tau Day' on the Internet" (in en). CNN. http://www.cnn.com/2011/TECH/innovation/06/28/tau.day.math/index.html. 
  43. ↑ "Tau Day – Come Eat Twice the (Pi)e" (in en). https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC56WHN_tau-day-come-eat-twice-the-pie?guid=19c50aa3-fe1c-4961-8df8-f03f3798de91. 
  44. ↑ "Pi Day – Fun Holiday". Timeanddate.com. https://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/fun/pi-day. 

External links



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