Pi πDay Challenge!

March, 14th 2023 - Today, mathematics enthusiasts and number aficionados worldwide are celebrating Pi Day. Pi Day is observed every year on March 14th (3/14 -- 3.14159…, get it?). Pi, often represented by the Greek letter π, is a mathematical constant that represents the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter. It is an irrational number, meaning its decimal representation goes on infinitely without repeating.

On this special occasion of Pi Day, we take a closer look at the extraordinary skill and dedication required to recite the digits of Pi. As an irrational number with an infinite decimal expansion, Pi has captivated mathematicians and enthusiasts alike for centuries, leading some individuals to push the limits of their memory and attempt to recite its digits to astonishing precision.

The quest to memorize the digits of Pi has become a remarkable challenge for many math enthusiasts. With each digit holding no apparent pattern or repetition, it demands exceptional mental prowess and relentless practice. Reciters dedicate countless hours to commit this mathematical marvel to memory, striving to impress and inspire others with their remarkable feat.

The current Guinness World Record for reciting Pi stands at an astounding 70,000 digits, a truly remarkable achievement by Rajveer Meena from India. This extraordinary record underscores the sheer dedication and perseverance required to master the art of Pi recitation.

Here at Our Lady’s the record holder has long been Tracey Rock who could recite Pi to 402 decimal places. This year however, we have a new champion! Reciting Pi to an unbelievable 609 decimal places, Kaymond Wang (Year 10) has blown the competition out of the water. When asked about his preparation for the challenge, Kaymond was modest about his feat; “I already knew about 200 or 300 decimal places from doing the challenge in the past so I just had to practice for three days beforehand. I spent about 6 hours each day memorising 5 or 10 digits at a time”

Kaymond is joined in his success by our other year group champions; Peniel Haile (Y7 - 346 places), Rebecca Caffrey (Y8 - 206 places), Erminas Pelenis (Y9 - 121 places) and Chantelle Bandele (Y11 - 137 places).