Happy Pi Day!

14 March 2013 3 Comments

Pi Day is an annual celebration commemorating the mathematical constant (pi) and is observed on March 14 or 3/14 in month/day date format since 3, 1 and 4 are the three most significant digits of in the decimal form. Pi (Greek letter ” π”) is the symbol used in mathematics to represent a constant – the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter – which is approximately 3.14159.

Pi has been calculated to over one trillion digits beyond its decimal point. As an irrational and transcendental number, it will continue infinitely without repetition or pattern. While only a handful of digits are needed for typical calculations, Pi’s infinite nature makes it a fun challenge to memorize, and to computationally calculate more and more digits.

There are many ways of observing Pi Day – these include eating pie, discussing the significance of the number and more recently watching Life Of Pi.

In 2009, theUnited States House of Representatives supported the designation of Pi Day. Today also happens to be Albert Einstein’s birthday — he would have been 134 years old today!

Listen to Pi on the saxophone!