What’s Pi Day all about? Math, science, pies and more

Pi Day: A Celebration of Math, Science, and, of Course, Pie

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Every year on March 14, math enthusiasts—from students to scientists—celebrate Pi Day, honoring the mathematical constant π (pi). The date, 3/14, represents the first three digits of this infinite number, which is fundamental in mathematics, physics, astronomy, and engineering.

Many people celebrate by enjoying a slice of pie—whether sweet, savory, or even pizza—playing on the word's similarity to "pi."

What is Pi?

Pi represents the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter. This number has been known since ancient times, with civilizations such as the Egyptians, Babylonians, and Chinese using approximations thousands of years ago.

Though often written as 3.14, pi is an irrational number, meaning it has an infinite number of non-repeating decimal places. Historic figures like Isaac Newton spent hours calculating its digits by hand, but today’s supercomputers have pushed pi’s known decimal places into the trillions.

The Origins of Pi Day

The holiday was first celebrated in 1988, when physicist Larry Shaw organized an event at San Francisco’s Exploratorium science museum. However, it wasn’t until 2009 that Congress officially recognized March 14 as Pi Day, aiming to inspire greater interest in math and science.

Fittingly, Pi Day also happens to be the birthday of Albert Einstein, adding an extra layer of significance to the celebration.

How People Celebrate

From math competitions to pie-eating contests, Pi Day is marked in many fun and educational ways. Schools and universities host events, bakeries offer special pie deals, and some enthusiasts even challenge themselves to recite as many digits of pi as

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