Pi Day: When We Can All Pretend to Be Nerds Without Bothering With the Homework and Wedgies

A BUZZFLASH NEWS ALERT
by Meg White

Congress is always issuing proclamations that congratulate and recognize people and groups. But a number? ...Or is it a letter?

This story is starting to sound like it's taking place closer to Sesame Street than K Street, so allow me to explain. Yesterday, Congress designated this Saturday, March 14, as National Pi Day, in honor of the Greek letter pi, which is used in mathematics to represent the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter. The resolution also attempts to raise the profile of math and science in American education while admitting the rest of the world is outscoring us in those areas.

Pi has been calculated to more than three trillion digits, but is often rounded off to 3.14, hence the Pi Day date, which has been celebrated for around 20 years around the world.

Dan Hellerich, the founder of PiDay.org who lives in Ames, IA, is obviously pleased with yesterday's resolution. Responding via e-mail from the SXSW Interactive Conference in Austin, TX, Hellerich told me why pi lends itself more to celebration than other mathematical functions:

Pi, even though it's an infinitely long number, is a pretty basic concept used in junior high geometry, so it's more widely known than other mathematical constants. But, most importantly, it's easy to make a date out of it. Other numbers like "e" (2.61...) just don't line up to our calendar.

Hellerich added that he celebrates each year by going out and ordering a slice of pie. Sounds good to me.

Around this time last year, I was dodging the vomit, spilt beer, and green accoutrements of people who probably would have beaten me up in junior high at Chicago's infamous South Side Irish St. Patrick's Day Parade. So maybe Pi Day is a worthy alternative holiday to beat out the remainder of my winter blues?

Coincidentally, March 14 is also Albert Einstein's birthday. With the recent passage of a square root day on March 3, 2009 (one of only nine this century), are our normally social calendars going to the geeks?

America needn't fear, however. Wherever there is celebration, the incoherent are never far behind. For an example, look no further than Hellerich's PiDay.org. The Web site, a destination for Pi Day revelers since 2001, has a place for people to write in what they like about pi and Pi Day. Of course, the most popular answer is "because it tastes good," but here are some of my other favorites:

Pi is awesome! It intrigues scientists and mathemagicians around the world..and it is WEIRD~! I love weird stuff..
^{By Aziz Mar 10, 2009 at 4:43 am}

pi is so cool !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! mostly because it has a lot of #s in it!!!
^{By kylie palmer Mar 9, 2009 at 6:13 pm} 

I luff pi!! And Greece! Go Greeks! and Geeks who like pi! I like rhubabr pie best... and pi!!! I don't know many numbers but i want to beat this kid who knows 2,500 digits i'm going to work on it!
^{By Meryl Cullen Mar 7, 2009 at 2:58 pm}

To be fair, pi is an irrational number, so it makes sense that affection for pi might express itself as an irrational infatuation. We truly love with our hearts, not our brains.

But maybe the sudden popularity of Pi Day comes out of ignorance and not respect for mathematics. As Rep. John Murtha (D-PA) told Politico: "We were never good at math in my family... I thought I was voting for P-I-E."

But Hellerich insists Pi Day is for everyone.

You don't have to be a math geek, we love to share Pi Day with everyone!  The activities math geeks do on Pi Day are all about bringing awareness to math in general -- you don't have to love memorizing digits, or measuring circles -- but just be aware that mathematics plays a huge role in a lot of everyday things.  And, if more students pursue studying math and science fields because they got hooked on Pi Day, great!

A BUZZFLASH NEWS ALERT

Image courtesy of PiDay.org.

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