Pi Day: five fun facts about 3.14 (2024)

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March 14, or 3.14, is Pi Day. Get it? Pi Day celebrates all things related to the ever-important mathematical constant that measures the ratio of a circle's circumference to its diameter. Throughout history, much has been done to understand more about this unconventional number; determining its value definitely tops the list. And while we can't tell you what pi is worth, we think there are a few things you should know aboutπ. Here are five.

1. It goes on forever

Pi Day: five fun facts about 3.14 (16)

AP Photo/Matthew Mead

A coconut cream pie is shown in this February 2012 photo. March 14 is Pi Day.

We all know thatπis typically rounded to 3.14, as figures with many numbers beyond the decimal point usually are. But did you know those post-decimal numbers continue infinitely? Pi is an irrational number, which means it cannot be represented as a simple fraction, and those numbers cannot be represented as terminating or repeating decimals. Therefore, the digits of pi go on forever in a seemingly random sequence. Pi is also a transcendental number, which means no amount of mathematics could possibly determine its value.

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Pi Day: five fun facts about 3.14 (2024)

FAQs

What is special about Pi Day? ›

Thursday marks National Pi Day in the United States and around the world. The holiday commemorates a timeless symbol beloved by many in mathematical and scientific communities, while making the most of the opportunities it allows for humorous wordplay, dessert and "teachable moments," as some experts have said.

Does 3.14 go on forever? ›

Every March 14 (3/14), mathematicians, scientists and math lovers around the world celebrate Pi Day, a commemoration of the mathematical sign pi (π), expressed most simply by the decimals 3.14 (although they go on forever, of course; more on that later).

What is pi value up to 100000000 digits? ›

pi = 3.1415926535 8979323846 2643383279 5028841971 6939937510 5820974944 5923078164 0628620899 8628034825 3421170679 8214808651 3282306647 0938446095 5058223172 5359408128 4811174502 8410270193 8521105559 6446229489 5493038196 4428810975 6659334461 2847564823 3786783165 2712019091 4564856692 3460348610 4543266482 ...

What is the significance of 3.14 Pi Day? ›

Math enthusiasts around the world, from college kids to rocket scientists, celebrate Pi Day on Thursday, which is March 14 or 3/14 — the first three digits of an infinite number with many practical uses. Around the world many people will mark the day with a slice of pie — sweet, savory or even pizza.

Who was born on Pi Day? ›

Nobel Prize-winning theoretical physicist Albert Einstein arrived in the world on March 14, 1879, which probably makes him the most famous Pi Day baby of all time.

Why is 3.14 called pie? ›

Answer: The name “pi” originated from the Greek word “π”, which is the first letter of the Greek word “periferia,” meaning “perimeter” or “circumference.” It was first used by the Welsh mathematician William Jones in 1706.

Who invented Pi Day? ›

In 1988, physicist Larry Shaw organized the first official Pi Day celebration at the San Francisco Exploratorium, marking March 14th (3/14) as a day to honor this mathematical constant.

Why do people eat pie on Pi Day? ›

Observance. Pi Day has been observed in many ways, including eating pie, throwing pies and discussing the significance of the number π, due to a pun based on the words "pi" and "pie" being hom*ophones in English ( /paɪ/), and the coincidental circular shape of many pies.

Will π ever end? ›

The miraculous fact about Pi is that no matter the size of the circle, the value does not change, making Pi a mathematical constant. Adding to its allure, Pi is also an irrational number which means that its decimal representation has no end and no repeating pattern. Dorina Mitrea, Ph.

Is pi longer than infinity? ›

Answer: No, pi (π) is not equal to infinity; it is an irrational number approximately equal to 3.14159 and extends infinitely without repeating in its decimal representation. Understanding Pi (π): Pi (π) is a mathematical constant that represents the ratio of a circle's circumference to its diameter.

Is pi a real number? ›

Pi can not be expressed as a simple fraction, this implies it is an irrational number. We know every irrational number is a real number. So Pi is a real number.

What is the 100 trillionth digit of pi? ›

The 100-trillionth decimal place of π (pi) is 0. A few months ago, on an average Tuesday morning in March, I sat down with my coffee to check on the program that had been running a calculation from my home office for 157 days. It was finally time — I was going to be the first and only person to ever see the number.

What is the 1 billionth digit of pi? ›

The billionth digit of pi is 9.

What is pi full number? ›

What is the value of pi? The value of pi is approximately 3.14, or 22/7. To 39 decimal places, pi is 3.141592653589793238462643383279502884197.

What are 3 facts about the history of pi? ›

Here are five fascinating facts about the wonderful natural constant that we know as π, but which we can never, ever write down in numbers.
  • Pi was estimated independently in China around 400 AD. ...
  • Pi is irrational. ...
  • Pi is transcendental. ...
  • Any numerical expression for Pi is infinite.
Mar 1, 2024

How old is Pi Day? ›

It was founded in 1988 by Larry Shaw, an employee of a science museum in San Francisco, the Exploratorium. Celebrations often involve eating pie or holding pi recitation competitions. In 2009, the United States House of Representatives supported the designation of Pi Day.

What is a fact about pies? ›

Pies were actually termed 'pyes' in medieval England. It wasn't until the 1500s that someone had the novel idea of filling a pie with fruit rather than meat, and it is thought that the very first cherry pie was sampled by Queen Elizabeth I herself!

What is an interesting fact about the life of pi? ›

Most of the tiger shots were very high-tech CGI. Only a few scenes, like the tiger swimming in the water, included a real tiger. Tobey Maguire was originally cast as the Writer. Ang Lee thought Maguire was too famous for such a small role, and would have been distracting.

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