header banner
Default

Grab these 5 unexpected facts about pi to commemorate Pi Day


Pi Day is celebrated on March 14th (3/14), which represents the first three digits of the mathematical constant pi (π), which is approximately equal to 3.14159. 

Pi is the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter, and it appears in many mathematical equations and formulas. Let's get to know some interesting facts about the number. 

Jumplink

Why do we celebrate March 14 as Pi Day?

Pi Day is on March 14. Larry Shaw of the Exploratorium science museum in San Francisco first observed March 14 in 1988. Pi Day falls on March 14th, which also happens to be Albert Einstein's birthday. 

albert einstein Pixabay

The celebration had become so significant by 2009 that a resolution to formally designate it was passed by the US Congress. According to the resolution, "The House of Representatives supports the designation of a "Pi Day" and its celebration throughout the world... and encourages schools and educators to observe the day with suitable activities that teach students about Pi and engage them in the study of mathematics." 

Another endorsement came in the form of Pi Day's own Google Doodle in 2010.

Here are some interesting facts about Pi 

pi day Pixabay

1. Pi Has Been Used By Humans For Thousands Of Years

According to math professor Steven Bogart in Scientific American, pi is the ratio of any circle's circumference to its diameter (the Greek letter is pronounced like the word "pie"). 

It comes to about 3.14. A circle's circumference will always be 3.14 times greater than its diameter, regardless of its size. The ancient Egyptians and Babylonians discovered this constant and began using it in calculations more than 4,000 years ago. Mathematicians gave the number the name "pi" in the 18th century.

2. Pi Is An Eternal Number

A nonsensical number, pi. It can't be expressed as a fraction, and it doesn't have a repeating pattern at the end (like the decimal expression of 1/3, 0.33333, etc., where the threes repeat indefinitely) or end with a specific number of decimal places (like 3/4, or. 75).

It just keeps moving forward without stopping. Pi has been calculated to a total of over 22 trillion digits so far. It's been a while since I've done this, but I've been meaning to for a while.

3. Pi's Digits Following The Decimal Point Are At Random

There is no pattern to be seen in the trillions of digits of pi that have been calculated. While mathematicians have been searching for those patterns for centuries, Johann Lambert, a self-taught Swiss-German mathematician and astronomer, demonstrated the irrationality of pi in 1768.

4. American Legislators Once Attempted To Round Up Pi To 3.2 

Isn't it easier to just call pi 3.2 if we don't need all those decimal places? In 1897, an Indiana doctor decided that the world should use 3.2 for all pi-related calculations.

Dr. Edwin Goodwin introduced legislation in the state legislature. He even copyrighted the concept and intended to charge royalty fees to anyone who used it—except those in Indiana. After some debate, the state senate realised that using a law to change a mathematical constant was a ridiculous idea, and the law was defeated.

5. Someone Has Memorised Pi To 70,000 Decimal Places

Rajveer Meena is the champion memorizer of pi digits, according to the Guinness Book of World Records. Meena recited pi to 70,000 decimal places on March 21, 2015, at VIT University in Vellore, India.

Meena, a 21-year-old student at the time, demonstrated his memory skills by reeling off the numbers while wearing a blindfold. He worked on it for more than nine hours.

What do you think about this? Tell us in the comments.

For more trending stories, follow us on Telegram

Sources


Article information

Author: Melissa Ryan

Last Updated: 1704137403

Views: 1485

Rating: 3.7 / 5 (49 voted)

Reviews: 94% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Melissa Ryan

Birthday: 1989-08-22

Address: 346 Arnold Inlet Suite 580, Lisaburgh, SD 62916

Phone: +3538556736818025

Job: Drone Pilot

Hobby: Soccer, Bowling, Stargazing, Singing, Magic Tricks, Painting, Rock Climbing

Introduction: My name is Melissa Ryan, I am a striking, risk-taking, resolved, honest, lively, unswerving, frank person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.