Pi Day: An annual celebration of the mathematical sign Pi

BY JACKIE BUSSJAEGER INTERIM QUAD EDITOR

What other holiday, besides Pi Day, has the whimsy to serve up mathematical constants with a side of whipped cream? March 14, or 3/14, shares its first three digits with the number pi.

It’s a lucky happenstance that “pi” and “pie” happen to be homophones—it’s difficult to imagine a math holiday holding its own without a little sweetening. It was physicist Larry Shaw at the San Francisco Exploratorium who planned the first large-scale celebration of Pi Day in 1988.

That first celebration included marching in circles around the Exploratorium campus, followed by digging into some fruit pies. Pi Day has been an occasion to indulge in some sweets and also celebrate the complex and quirky nature of math and science ever since.

It’s been a long time since some of us have been in the classroom—it might be time for a refresher of what, exactly, pi does. Pi, named for the Greek letter that represents it, is the ratio of the diameter of a cir

Weekly Outlook

Weather Tidbits

Brought to you by WeathermanWatson.com and trips around the area. Frank can be found on the internet at WeathermanWatson.com. cle to its circumference. If you only know how wide a circle is across, pi tells you precisely how much area it covers. It might not be something we use in everyday life, but its usefulness is all around us. It is essential in most calculations for building and construction, communication, medical procedures, music theory and spaceflight, for a few examples.

The calendar may say Spring starts on Monday, March 20, but it’s feeling anything like Spring. Many families returned this past weekend from Spring break only to find another 10 inches of snow fell in their absence. My season total now stands at 81.9 inches and the Airport totals have moved it into the Top Ten snowiest winters. Yahoo! If we’re to get this much snow, let’s set some records. It’s mid-March. The sun is strong, days are getting longer and soon we’ll be doing more Spring-like activities.

Pi is considered an irrational number, which is infinite and never enters a predictably repeating pattern. Pi Day has sometimes been an occasion for schools to hold pi recitation contests, where students are challenged to memorize as many digits as they can.

Since 2012, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology has adopted the practice of releasing its acceptance letters on Pi Day, sometimes coordinating by the minute to most closely correspond with digits of pi and of the rival mathematical concept of tau.

Most are happy to celebrate with a slice of their favorite pie from one of the bakeries or restaurants around town, but perhaps Pi Day is a time to put your math skills to the test and try memorizing a few digits of pi this year.

WHAT’S HAPPENING • WHAT’S HAPPENING • WHAT’S HAPPENING

Current Events

EQC SPEAKER SERIES - ORGANIZED TRASH COLLECTION

When: 7 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, March 15, 2023.

Where: City Council Chambers, 4600 Victoria St. N. in Shoreview.

Details: Trash collection in Shoreview could be inefficient, costing residents more money compared to neighboring cities. Hear what other cities have done to improve the quality of garbage collection and see if that may work for Shoreview too. This event is part of the 2023 Environmental Speaker Series, presented by the Shoreview Environmental Quality Committee. Susan Young will be the speaker. The event will be replayed on channel 16.

Contact: 651-490-4665.

LUNCH WITH A NATURALIST: MAPLE SYRUPING

When: 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday, March 15.

FISH FRY

When: 4 to 6:30 p.m. Friday, March 24.

Where: Church of St. Pius X, 3878 Highland Ave. in White Bear Lake.

Details: Enjoy deep fried or baked cod, baked potato, macaroni & cheese, coleslaw, pasta salad, dinner roll, dessert and beverage. Dine in or curbside to go. Contact: 651-429-5337 or https://www.churchofstpiusx. org/spxfishfry.

Ongoing Events

MAKERTEEN

When: 4 to 6 p.m. Tuesdays.

Where: RCL-Shoreview, 4560 Victoria St. N. in Shoreview.

Details: MakerTeen is all about being creative, making new things, using high and low-tech tools to change your world. Join us for weekly hangouts where we will chat, make together and share creations.

Where: Wargo Nature Center, 7701 Main St. in Lino Lakes.

Details: Free monthly naturalist-led program for adults of all ages. May include trail hike. Registration not required; equipment provided. Bring a lunch. Contact: 763-324-3350 or anokacountyparks.com.

WOMEN WALKING

When: 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, March 18.

Where: Belwin Conservancy Hilltop Classroom, 1553 Stagecoach Trail S.in Afton.

Details: Seasonal refreshments and centering exercises, walking meditations in the woods and prairies, and bonfire. Registration required. Contact: belwin.org/events.

SAP TO SYRUP

When: Noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, March 18.

Where: Tamarack Nature Center, 5287 Otter Lake Road in White Bear Township.

Details: Learn all about the process of tapping maple trees for syrup during a 45-minute guided tour.