Why Pi? The Mystery of the 3.14

PI Day Sing Along Flyer

The Pi Day is an annual celebration of the mathematical symbol π. Pi Day is observed on March 14 since 3, 1, and 4 are the first three significant digits of π. In 2009, the United States House of Representatives supported the designation of Pi Day. In Europe, people say “pee.”

American celebrates the math symbol with deals: pizzas for 3.14 and amazing pies for free in celebration of the circumference of a circle divided by the diameter.

Around 250 BC, the Greek mathematician Archimedes calculated 96-sides shapes inside the circle and came up with a number 3,1415926535897932…and so on.

Today, scientist and engineers use π for amazing range of calculations evolving circles and curves, from planning the routes of airliners to amazing sound waves.

To learn more, visit the FNU Library and read the references:

Ball, Johnny. (2009) Why Pi? – New York. – DK Publishing. – 93 pages.

Cheng, Eugenia. (2015) Ho to Bake π. – New York: Basic Books. – 288 pages.

Logsdon, mayme I. (1935) A Mathematician Explains. – Chicago: The University of

Chicago Press. – 189 pages.

Posamentier, Alfred S. & Ingmar Lehmann. (2004) Pi: A Biography of the World’s Most

Mysterious Number. – 324 pages.

Stewart, Ian. (1995) Nature’s Numbers. – New York: BasicBooks. – 164 pages.

Ida Tomshinsky, FNU Library Director itomshinsky@fnu.edu