Pi Day

Pi Day Latest News

10-year-old Alberto Davila Aragon from Bristol, UK set a new world record by recalling 280 decimal places of Pi in one minute on Pi Day.

About Pi Day

• Pi Day, or International Day of Mathematics, celebrated on March 14 every year, honours the mathematical constant Pi, recognising its significance in mathematics.
• Pi Day is celebrated by lovers of mathematics every year through Pi recital competitions and Pi Day workouts to stimulate interest in learning and practising mathematics.
• The me for Pi Day 2025 is ‘Mathematics, Art, and Creativity’.

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Why March 14?

• The approximate value of Pi is 3.14.
• The date, when written in the format of month/day (3/14), matches the first three digits of the mathematical constant.

History of Pi Day

• The first Pi Day was celebrated in 1988 by physicist Larry Shaw at the San Francisco Exploratorium.
• In 2009, the United States House of Representatives officially designated March 14 as Pi Day. 
• Later, in 2019, UNESCO declared Pi Day as the “International Day of Mathematics” during its general conference.
• Albert Einstein, the renowned physicist behind the “General Theory of Relativity,” was born on Pi Day in 1879. 

What is Pi (π)?

• Pi is a mathematical constant that represents the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter. 
• It is an infinitely long, irrational number, and its exact value cannot be known.
• Pi has been calculated to over 50 trillion digits beyond its decimal point. 
• As an irrational and transcendental number, it will continue infinitely without repetition or pattern. 
• It is roughly equal to 3.14, or 22/7.
• It is represented by the Greek letter ‘π.’
• Why that letter? It’s the first Greek letter in the words “periphery” and “perimeter,” and pi is the ratio of a circle’s periphery — or circumference — to its diameter.
• History:
  • Pi has been known for nearly 4,000 years and was discovered by the ancient Babylonians.
  • One of the first calculations of pi was carried out by Greek mathematician Archimedes of Syracuse (287 B.C. to 212 B.C.).
  • The symbol π was devised by British mathematician William Jones in 1706.
• Applications: It is used in a wide variety of mathematical and scientific calculations, including geometry, trigonometry, calculus, and more.

Pi Day FAQs

Q1. What is Pi Day?

Ans. Pi Day, or International Day of Mathematics, celebrated on March 14 every year, honours the mathematical constant Pi.

Q2. Why is March 14 observed as Pi Day?

Ans. The date, when written in the format of month/day (3/14), matches the first three digits of the mathematical constant, Pi.

Q3. What is the theme of Pi Day 2025?

Ans. The theme for Pi Day 2025 is ‘Mathematics, Art, and Creativity’.

Source: TOI