March 14th was the day of π (Pi), one of the most famous mathematical constants in the world.
Pi is the constant ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter. This constant applies to all circles, regardless of their size: so the ratio of pi can be applied to both the rim of a can and the equator of a planet.
According to Ron Hipschman of the Museum Exploratorium in San Francisco, this rather simple description hides some rather intriguing properties. In 1988, museum staff held the first Pi Day celebration by eating cake (referring to the word cake, which means cake in English), and have continued the tradition every year since.
“Pi is interesting because it is infinite [et que sa séquence] never repeated,” says Hipschman. This is probably one of the reasons why it captivates so many people, he adds.
A BRIEF HISTORY OF PI
We’ve known Pi for thousands of years; it is even in the Bible. This fascination is cross-cultural. Peoples like the Babylonians, ancient Greeks and Chinese tried to calculate more and more accurate versions of this value.
The famous mathematician Archimedes tried in 250 BC. to calculate the exact value of pi. He did this using two 96-sided polygons, one drawn inside a circle and the other outside. He believed that the value of pi was between the lengths of each polygon’s perimeter. This is the first theoretical calculation of pi, but also the most accurate of its time.
Over time, other people have managed to calculate the value of pi with greater accuracy. However, as computers developed, the hunt for decimals intensified. In 1949, two American mathematicians got 1,120 decimal places with a simple office calculator. To date, according to Hipschman, we have discovered 13.3 trillion digits of pi.
IP TAG
Why March 14? The celebration originated in the United States, where the date is written in the abbreviated form “3/14”, reminiscent of the first digits of Pi: “3.14”.
Enthusiasts have many ways to celebrate this unique number. While some compose haikus and songs in his honor, others decide to memorize and recite as many decimal places as possible: the current record holder has reached 70,030 decimal places.
Big names in American higher education are also celebrating this special day in their own way. For example, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) publishes its admissions decisions every March 14th.
Other lovers dedicate themselves to the preparation (and tasting) of pies, a tradition that has become a symbol and has spread throughout the world.
“We all love celebrations, especially when there’s cake to share,” Hipschman jokes.