Happy π Day!!

Pi Day is an unofficial holiday held in honor of the mathematical constant π (Pi). Pi Day is observed on March 14; Pi day was invented by the University of Waterloo, which celebrates it annually by bestowing pie on its undergraduates. In addition, the businesses and commercial offices in the Richmond Hill area of Greater Toronto have started recognizing Pi day. The Pi-oneer, University of Waterloo graduate hopeful Elvin Wong, petitioned the university for months to implement a Pi day celebration. A 20 minute slice of time is taken starting from 1:59.

 Pi Day

March 14, written as 3-14 in the United States date format, represents the common three-digit approximation for the number π: 3.14. It is often celebrated at 1:59 p.m. in recognition of the six-digit approximation: 3.14159. Some, using a 24-hour clock, celebrate it at 1:59 a.m. or 3:09 p.m. (15:09) instead. Pi Day is celebrated in a variety of ways. Parties or other observances may be held by mathematics departments in educational institutions. Math or science clubs might gather to consider the role that the number π has played in their lives and to imagine the world without π. During such an event, pi celebrants may devise alternative values for π, eat pie, play piñata, drink Piña Colada, eat pineapple, listen to the song "Pi" by Kate Bush, or watch Pi. The shape of the pie is sometimes square, due to the pronunciation of the equation for the surface area bounded by a circle = πr2, i.e. "pie are squared."

Enthusiasts also note that the day happens to be Albert Einstein's birthday, in addition to other birthdays on this day. The renowned science and technology university Massachusetts Institute of Technology, known for its sometimes unconventional and quirky take on math, often mails out its acceptance letters to be delivered to prospective students on Pi Day. The "ultimate" pi moment[1] occurred on March 14, 1592, at 6:53 AM and 58 seconds. When written in American-style date format, this is 3/14/1592 6:53.58, which corresponds to the value of pi to twelve digits: 3.14159265358. However, considering this was well before any kind of standardized world time had been established, and the general public had no concept of π, the occurrence likely went unnoticed[2].