Pi Day

Pi Day is a 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.

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In 2009, the United States House of Representatives supported the designation of Pi Day.

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.

Pictured above is Larry Shaw, the creator of Pi Day, at the Exploratorium.

Significance 3, 1 and 4 are the three most significant figures of π

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History

Larry Shaw created Pi Day in 1989. The holiday was celebrated at the San Francisco Exploratorium, with staff and public marching around one of its circular spaces, then consuming fruit pies. The Exploratorium continues to hold Pi Day celebrations.

On Pi Day 2004, Daniel Tammet recited 22,514 decimal digits of π.

On March 12, 2009, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a non-binding resolution (HRES 224), recognizing March 14, 2009, as National Pi Day.

For Pi Day 2010, Google presented a Google Doodle celebrating the holiday, with the word Google laid over images of circles and pi symbols.

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.

However, the fractional approximation of 22⁄7 is actually closer to π than the decimal approximation of 3.14. Thus, Pi Approximation Day is celebrated on 22/7 in the day/month format, or July 22.

Sometimes the so-called Pi Minute is also commemorated[citation needed]. This one occurs twice on March 14 at 1:59 a.m., and 1:59 p.m. If π is truncated to seven decimal places, it becomes 3.1415926, making the Pi Second occur on March 14 at 1:59:26 a.m. (or 1:59:26 p.m.). If a 24-hour clock is used, the Pi Second occurs just once yearly, on March 14 at 01:59:26.

In 2015, Pi Day will reflect five digits of π (3.1415) as 3/14/15 in month/day/year date format. There will also be a Pi Second accurate to 10 digits (3.141592654) at 9:26:54 in that year's Pi Day.

Celebration

There are many ways of celebrating Pi Day. Some of them include eating pie (pi and pie being homophones) and discussing the relevance of π.

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology often mails its application decision letters to prospective students for delivery on Pi Day.

How To Celebrate Pi Day

1) - Plan A Pi Theme Party

First visit our party planning section where we help you decide the what, when,

where and why's of planning a party.

2) - Bake Pies!

The first choice of dessert for Pi Day is naturally any type of pie but any food

decorated with Pi is perfect. You can bake a cake or cupcakes with the Pi symbol

on top. You can bake homemade cookies with Pi icing. You can even make the Pi

symbol with pastry and serve up delicious meat pastries if you like.

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3) - Learn about Pi

Take the family to the library and read about math.

4) - Be Artistic

Let the kids draw and paint pictures of a Pi filled day.

5) - Send Internet Greeting

This holiday is related to:

Pi Approximation Day

See Also:

• Party Planning

• Costume Party

• Weird Party Ideas

• Weird Holiday Parties

• Shocker shaker and shamer parties

• Theme Party

External links

Official web site for Pi Day

Exploratorium's Pi Day Web Site

NPR provides a "Pi Rap" audiovideo

Pi Day Activity - Memorizing Pi

Resources: This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses some material from Wikipedia/article piday / and other related pages. Top photo stock