By Mark Fisher
Doc
Epic Pi Day
Lost in the Stars
Share
Tweet
Mark your calendars – it is almost Pi Day! "What is Pi Day?" you may ask. Well, it a bit of fun based on math. The number pi (the Greek letter π) is the ratio of the length around a circle (the perimeter) to the distance across (the diameter). So to calculate pi you just need to measure around the edge of a circle then divide by its width. The number you will get (depending on how well you measure) will be about 3.14, and just for fun people have started to call March 14 Pi(e) Day (3/14, get it?).
With some more decimal places pi is about 3.14159265359.... Would you look at that? The next decimal places after "14" are "15", and that's this year! Then if you take the next places and make them into a time we could have 9:26:53:59. Which is a time, we could make it either AM or PM. That makes this year's Pi Day "epic", or very special, since there is a time, a bit before 9:30, that takes the decimal expansion of Pi out to many places.
Some folks are excited about this, and are making a big deal out of it.
So what is the right way to celebrate Pi Day? By having pie, of course! Not that there is much need for an excuse to eat pie. What's a person to do if they are a mathematician and a baker? Well, make pies, and plan out the day. Quiche for breakfast, pot pies for lunch, and either shepherd's pie or pizza pie for dinner. Of course, we won't forget all the dessert pies that can be made.
Do you have to eat pie all day? Well, no, I suppose you don't, though it's hard for me to imagine someone not eating pie all day, given such a great excuse. But, hey, that's me.
Surely you can make an effort to have a slice of pie on Pi Day? Even if you don't bake, you can find a pie at one of the local restaurants or bakery to enjoy. You've only got a couple weeks to prepare, so start planning now.
Me? I've got some planning of my own to do. I need to do some research. Does a frittata count? It's like a quiche, but without a crust – but, does the crust make a pie? And, what about Boston Cream Pie or cheese cake?
I'm glad I still have some time to figure this out.
Happy Pi Day!
