As March 14 (3.14) rolls around, mathematicians, educators, and pie enthusiasts worldwide are gearing up for the most irrational and delicious holiday of the year: Pi Day! This annual celebration of the never-ending number has become a cultural phenomenon, with festivities ranging from pi recitation contests to pie-baking competitions. 

Speaking of which, do you know why pi isn’t on X? Because 280 characters isn’t enough for it to express itself! We hope you like pi-puns, because you’re about to be served your fair share.

If you are outside of the circle of what pi is, it is a constant, infinite, non-repeating number used in a plethora of ways throughout the math and science world.

“Simply put, pi is a mathematical constant that expresses the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter. It is part of many formulas used in physics, astronomy, engineering and other fields, dating back thousands of years to ancient Egypt, Babylon and China,” according to U.S. News.

Pi Day has its roots in San Francisco’s Exploratorium, where physicist Larry Shaw organized the first official celebration on March 14, 1988. Since then, the holiday has grown in popularity, with math lovers and baked goods enthusiasts uniting to celebrate this never-ending decimal in the most absurd ways possible. In 2009, Congress even designated every March 14 to be “Pi Day” in hopes of spurring more interest in math and science.

Coincidentally, arguably the most famous scientist of all time, Albert Einstein, shares the first three digits of his birthday (3.14) with pi (Einstein was born on March 14, 1879). Princeton University, where Einstein held a non-faculty office for 22 years, even holds an annual Einstein lookalike contest on Pi Day.

One of the most popular Pi Day traditions is the pi recitation contest, where participants compete to see who can remember the most digits. The current world record stands at a mind-boggling 70,030 digits, set by Rajveer Meena of India in 2015 – which took nearly 10 hours to recite! That’s almost as impressive as remembering where you put your car keys.

Speaking of digits, a recent Thunderword open-ended survey called “Do you know pi?” put people’s knowledge to the test.

Out of the 314 respondents, 120 could recite pi to two decimal places (3.14), 107 knew four digits (3.1415), 38 managed to rattle off six digits (3.141592), 24 nailed eight digits (3.14159265), nine respondents conquered 10 digits (3.1415926535), and six recited pi to an astonishing 15 digits (3.14159265358979)! 

But let’s not forget the real MVPs of the survey: the four individuals who knew pi to 17 places (3.1415926535897932), three who could recite it to 20 (3.141592653589793238), and an elite duo who had memorized pi to a jaw-dropping 25 digits (3.14159265358979323846). 

And let’s give an honorable mention to the one particularly enthusiastic respondent who, when asked “Do you know Pi?” simply listed off their favorite pies: “Apple, pumpkin, pecan, blueberry, rhubarb, chicken pot pie, pizza, cherry, key lime, strawberry, sweet potato.” Talk about a well-rounded pie palate!

Interestingly, those six individuals who could recite pi to 15 decimal places have something in common with NASA. The space agency uses the first 15 digits of pi in its calculations for everything from the circumference of the Earth’s orbit to the trajectory of spacecrafts. 

So, if you ever find yourself in a conversation with a NASA scientist, impress them by casually dropping the fact that you know pi to 3.14159265358979 – they might just invite you to join their next mission!

Pi Day isn’t just about numbers; it’s also about food. Pie enthusiasts around the globe use this holiday as an excuse to indulge in their favorite circular treats, from classic apple pi(e) to pizza pi(e). Bakeries and restaurants get in on the action too, offering special deals and creations that are sure to make your taste buds go “oooh” and your waistline go “aaah.” Just remember, you can’t have your pi and eat it too!

Our own Highline College also gets in on the festivities. The Thunderbirds celebrate with Math Week activities held on campus, leading up to the big day!

The week kicked off on Monday with “5 Reasons Biologists Love Math,” featuring hands-on practice of the role of mathematics in biology, and “Spin the Pi with Entry Advising” to win prizes by answering questions about math placement and pathways at Highline. 

On Tuesday in the library was Math Puzzles, where students solved problems of varying difficulties on whiteboards for prizes and explored the library’s math-related book display. 

Wednesday brought Geologic Math Activities, where math was used to unravel the mysteries of the Earth, and the Physics of Electricity and Magnetism, which showcased math in action. 

Thursday is the main event (which is fitting since it is Pi Day) with a Math Pizza Party and Pi Digits Contest – how many digits can you recite? Enjoy some pizza, try your hand at math puzzles, and hang out with math instructors. 

Round out the week on Friday with a screening of the inspiring true story “Hidden Figures,” about three women at NASA who were instrumental in launching astronaut John Glenn into orbit, and a cookie decorating contest hosted by the Academic Success Centers as part of their tutor celebration and potluck bash.

So, whether you’re a math whiz, a dessert devotee, or just looking for an excuse to embrace your inner nerd, there’s something for everyone on 3.14. Join the irrational exuberance, bake a pie (or several), and take a moment to appreciate the infinite wonders of pi.

And if anyone asks what you’re celebrating, just give them this riddle: “Smaller than 4, yet bigger than 3. To make it your food, you must add an E! What am I?”

Happy Pi Day, everyone!