Celebrating Pi

On this day internationally, people celebrate ‘pi approximation day’ dedicated entirely to the constant of pi. Whether you’re a baker or a math buff, this day has something for everyone!

The symbol Pi; Image Source: Wikimedia Commons

“Give me a lever long enough and a fulcrum on which to place it, and I shall move the world.” -Archimedes

As a kid, the term ‘pie’ was nothing but a delicious delight, made with love by our mother’s hands, until we grew up and learnt the term ‘pi’. This ‘pi’ was unlike any number we had hitherto come across, for every teacher would state its importance, yet no one, not even skilled mathematicians have been able to decode its true value. Its usage in math has proved to be dreadful to many high schoolers, but the ambiguous air surrounding it has been fascinating to all!

The approximate value of ‘pi’ is said to have been known for almost 4000 years. The calculations of ancient Babylonians trying to figure the value of ‘pi’ have been discovered, with one tablet (dated ca. 1900–1680) BC going as far as calculating the approximate value of ‘pi’ as 3.125.

Many have speculated its value all across the world since ancient times, with lesser-known discoverers of ‘pi’ such as Aryabhatta from India and Zu Chongzhi from China who brilliantly calculated approximate values using their own methods. However, the title of the ‘first discoverer of pi’ was awarded to Archimedes of Syracuse (287–212 BC) who showed its value belonged between 3 1/7 and 3 10/71. His discovery formed the basis for future mathematicians all across, as ‘pi’ now stands as a concept that is regularly used in various mathematical calculations.

A series of developments in the medieval era in India and other countries revolutionized pi’s usage. However,  European mathematicians like Leibniz and Gregory popularized it later on. William Jones in 1706 with Leonhard Euler in 1737 paved the way for the greek symbol of pi being used to symbolize this mysterious number.

The value of pi is currently used widely as the fraction 22/7 or 3.14. Although mathematicians are perceived as highly serious individuals, they are surprisingly into puns, for this day i.e 22nd July is celebrated all across as ‘Pi approximation day’ simply because the numerator of pi is 22 and its denominator is 7, which becomes today’s date!

In fact, pi is so special in the field of mathematics, that it is internationally celebrated on two closely related days, one being on 14th march as ‘pi day’ and the other on this day known as ‘pi approximation day’ or ‘casual pi day’ dedicated to the mathematical constant pi.

Maths whizzes have found ways to enjoy this day with fun activities. Many play on the word ‘pi’ and make this an excuse to whip a pie, featuring the greek symbol as a decoration on top!

Since pi is an irrational number, it continues indefinitely without any repetition, making it impossible to predict which digit would come next. Taking this as a challenge, many dare their schoolmates or fellow mathematicians to memorize as many digits as they possibly can, each trying to outsmart the other.

Although this seems endlessly tiring and pointless, believe it or not, an Indian named Rajveer Meena from Rajasthan managed to memorize up to 70,000 digits of pi, with its recitation taking 10 hours which bagged him a spot in the Guinness book of world records!

The mystery of pi continues to be one of the biggest mathematical cases, with many frantically trying to reach its end, if there ever is. It haunts some of the greatest mathematical minds. Emma Haruka Iwao, a Google employee from Japan, holds the current record of calculating up to 31 trillion digits of pi! The race to find its true value doesn’t seem to end anytime soon.