Celebrate Pi Day!

What Is Pi?

Pi (3.14159265359…) is the ratio of the circumference of a circle to the diameter. If you divide the circumference of any circle by the diameter, you will always get exactly the same number, Pi.  Mathematicians use the symbol π to represent pi. That makes the formula for the relationship of the circumference of a circle to the diameter π= c/d.

While Pi is a constant, it is also irrational, meaning the number goes on forever, or infinite. You can see the first million digits at PiDay.org, but you can never see the last number.

Learning About Pi

Anytime we assign a number or concept a symbol, it can seem complex and hard to understand. This isn’t true with pi. We can demonstrate pi with a hands-on activity that will make π easy to understand.

This History Of Pi video gives more information about the history and how the calculation of π has developed over the centuries. It is geared for your middle and high school students.

This video is a little lighter with some practical Pi information. (If you like this video, check out Danica McKellar’s math books. My daughter really enjoys them.)

Here are some other pi lessons and activities :

• Teaching Pi  – from Our Journey Westward
• Pi worksheet
• Pi Day Pie math problems

Books About Pi

Celebrate Pi Day!

Pi Day is celebrated each year on March 14 (3/14). There is even a website, PiDay.org, dedicated to the celebration of this irrational number. You can join the party by having some fun with pi! Here are some ideas:

• Pi Cityscape
• Demonstrating Pi With String
• Make Pi Day bracelets
• Lots of Pi activities at TeachPi.org
• Piece Of Pi – a musical composition for the violin based on pi

Follow The Homeschool Scientist’s board Pi Day on Pinterest.