“Pi Day” is celebrated every year on the fourteenth of March (3/14), but we’re not necessarily celebrating delicious pies. Pi Day is actually an opportunity to delve deeper into the wonders of mathematics. Math can be an intimidating subject for adults returning to education, but Pi Day offers a chance to embrace the subject with enthusiasm and curiosity.
As a reminder, Pi (π) is used to represent the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter. For any circle, the distance around the edge is a little more than three times the distance across. Pi is actually an irrational number (a decimal with no end and no repeating pattern) that is most often approximated with the decimal 3.14 or the fraction 22/7.
To celebrate this day where circles are the star, check out this fun article from PBS NewsHour exploring the mathematical principles behind classic toys we all know and offering strategic tips using math concepts. Learn about the physics behind hula hooping, the optimal size of yo-yos for extended “sleeps,” and the immense number of possible game combinations in Connect Four.
Enjoy your Pi Day, and may your circles always be well-rounded!