Pi Day
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Pi Day and Pi Approximation Day are two unofficial holidays held to celebrate the mathematical constant π (pi). Pi Day is observed on March 14 (3/14 in American date format), due to π being equal to roughly 3.14. Sometimes it is celebrated on March 14 at 1:59 p.m. (commonly known as "Pi Minute"). If π is truncated to seven decimal places, it becomes 3.1415926, making March 14 at 1:59:26 p.m., "Pi Second". Pi Approximation Day may be observed on any of several dates, most often July 22 (22/7—in European date format—is a popular approximation of π). March 14 also happens to be Albert Einstein's birthday.
The first Pi Day celebration was held at the San Francisco Exploratorium in 1988, with staff and public marching around one of its circular spaces, and then consuming fruit pies; the museum has since added pizza pies to its Pi Day menu.[1] The founder of Pi Day, the "Prince of Pi", is Larry Shaw,[2] now retired from the Exploratorium, but still helping out with the celebrations. They have also recently added the first Pi Day celebrations in Second Life.
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology often mails out its acceptance letters to be delivered to prospective students on Pi Day.[3]
Some also celebrate "Pi Approximation Day" which can fall on any of several dates:
- February 27: The Earth is estimated to have travelled 1 radian of its orbit since the New Year
- March 14: A common approximation for American Pi (3.14)
- July 22: 22/7 in nearly all date formats, an ancient approximation of pi
- November 10: The 314th day of the year (in leap years, November 9)
- December 21, 1:13 p.m.: The 355th day of the year (in leap years, December 20), celebrated at 1:13 for the Chinese approximation 355/113
- March 14, '16: The closest approximation of pi this century.
On March 14, 2004 Daniel Tammet recited from memory 22514 decimals of pi.[4]
[edit] See also
- Mole Day
- Square root day
- Towel Day
- Proof that 22 over 7 exceeds π
- List of topics related to pi
- For other holidays celebrated on these days, see March 14 and July 22
[edit] References
- ^ Adrian Apollo. "A place where learning pi is a piece of cake", The Fresno Bee, March 10, 2007. Retrieved on 2007-03-21.
- ^ COMMENTS & CURIOSITIES: Infinitely irrational Pi Day Accessed on 2007-03-29.
- ^ Erin McClan. "Pi Fans to Meet March 14 (3.14, get it?)", The Associated Press, March 14, 2007. Retrieved on 2007-03-14.
- ^ David Letterman show 27.04.2005
[edit] External links
- The Exploratorium's Pi Page
- Pi Day in Maine with Dr. Wilson's Memory Elixir
- How to Celebrate Pi Day
- PiDay.org The Official March 14 Website
- Ideas for Teachers for Celebrating Pi Daybn:পাই দিবস
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