Happy Pi Day!
I'm admitting that this is a blatant repeat of my post published more than ten years ago, but maybe this will be the first time you see it! Anyway, Pi doesn't change, it's constant, and Pi Day happens every year on this date, so just read on and then go and have some pie.
Today is March 14 .... 3.14 ..... in other words, Pi Day!(It's also Albert Einstein's birthday!) (And also the day that theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking passed away today 14 March 2018. An appropriate date.)
The Greek letter Pi is the symbol for the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter. It is approximately 22/7 and is usually calculated to 3 digits, 3.14, and is the most revered mathematical constant in the known universe.
Remember your Grade 9 math class?
With the use of computers, Pi has been calculated to over 1 trillion digits past the decimal. That's a whole lot of numbers!
So celebrate Pi Day with nerds worldwide by singing this little song, to the tune of "O Christmas Tree", all together now:
Oh, number Pi
Oh, number Pi
Your digits are unending,
Oh, number Pi
Oh, number Pi
No pattern are you sending.
You're three point one four one five nine,
And even more if we had time,
Oh, number Pi
Oh, number Pi
For circle lengths unbending.
Oh, number Pi
Oh, number Pi
You are a number very sweet,
Oh, number Pi
Oh, number Pi
Your uses are so very neat.
There's 2 Pi r and Pi r squared,
A half a circle and you're there,
Oh, number Pi
Oh, number Pi
We know that Pi's a tasty treat.
(Lyrics by LaVern Christianson, math teacher Windom, MN, USA)
