Pi Day: Where math meets dessert
From classrooms to kitchens, Pi Day inspires celebrations
Pi Day is celebrated on March 14 around the world as that day represents Pi's first three numbers. It’s a yearly celebration for math lovers to see who can recite the most digits of its infinite decimals, talk about its history and have an excuse to eat many, many pies!
First, the math: Pi is the Greek letter “π.” It is the symbol used in mathematics to represent a constant, as it is the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter. It has been calculated to more than 50 trillion digits beyond its decimal point and will continue to repeat, as it is an irrational and transcendent number.
Pi day celebrations inspire sweet treats. Photo/lindaroisum for Pixabay
“The number Pi shows up in lots and lots of places,” said Michael Goldberg, professor of mathematics in the College of Arts and Sciences. “It’s always going to be there, either in the overt part or the hidden part.”
While many may remember Pi being celebrated in K-12 settings, the hype around academics and desserts has no bounds.
Kevin Ploeger, director of academic and student advising for the College of Arts and Science, grew up on a midwestern farm where he learned to bake pies from scratch. He recalled celebrating Pi Day during high school and in his undergraduate studies at Indiana University.
At UC, Ploeger describes PI Day as a team-building opportunity.
“Gathering around food is always a way to get to know people more,” Ploeger said. When he started his annual tradition, Ploeger would bring in apple, blackberry, pecan and even rhubarb pies.
“If I bring pie, I don’t buy it,” he said.
Savory or sweet, there's a pie for everyone. Photo/designer798 for Pixabay
Larger celebrations are being held on Pi Day off campus in Cincinnati. The historic Cincinnati Observatory — which was affiliated with UC’s Physics department until 1999 — will host a Pi Day event at 6 p.m. Saturday at the Clark Montessori High School’s Cafetorium, featuring Pi-themed challenges, inflatables, activities, raffles and more. Pizza — an equally delicious type of pie — will be offered for $3 per slice.
While most people find Pi Day lighthearted and humorous, it's not without controversy. Goldberg mentioned a mathematical technicality and point of contention that some mathematicians feel quite strongly about.
“I know that there are people who are rather vocal about the fact that PI was the wrong number to choose,” Goldberg said. “That really the universal number that shows up everywhere is sort of twice Pi, which I guess would be the ratio of the perimeter of a circle to its radius, so it's like 6.383, and this number also shows up in lots of calculations.”
Featured image at top: UC will celebrate Pi Day on March 14. Photo/Provided
By Chloe Hall
Student Journalist, College of Arts and Sciences Marketing and Communication
artscinews@uc.edu
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