It isn’t often Mathematicians and punsters share information; March 14 annually is an opportunity. You might recognize–or vaguely remember–pi from Geometry class, written as the Greek letter. It is aπ estimated number to calculate the “circumference” distance around a circle.
Pi is a “ratio” between the unknown circumference size of any circle and the known length of its “radius.” That is the measured distance from the circle’s center point out to the edge of the circumference. Visualize a radias-sized strip. If you wrap the radius around the circle’s circumference (perimeter) it will ALWAYS go three times, but it will be a bit short. You will NEVER find an exact radius length that goes all way round. It does not matter what size circle is used.
The number of radii it would take to go around the circumference of the circle is 3.141592653589793238…. This number never repeats the string of digits and never gets to an exact end.
Multiplying the radius length times 3.1415 will yield a circumference measurement that is “close enough.” When thinking of this estimated circumference distance, we usually round it down to 3.14. Close enough for most calculations. Try it. Multiply pi (3.14) times a radius of 4. Then, multiply 4 times 3.1415.
March 14 can be written 3/14, signifying month number three, day number 14. That math class, constant number, pi, is recalled. Few of us need to determine a circle’s circumference, unless you want to buy fencing for a circular area of the yard.
However, this week, 3.14 can remind us to enjoy a piece of pie on pi day.
