All About Pi and Pi(e) Day!

It's irrational! It's trascendental! It's a mathmatical constant!

Here’s everything you need to know to have an irrationally, transcendentally and constantly delicious Pi Day.

PI DAY: A QUANTIFIABLY WONDERFUL EXCUSE TO EAT PIE

Since the number Pi begins with 3.14, people celebrate Pi and mathematics in general on March 14 (3/14) every year.

Here's what you need to know:

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Pi is a circle thing

Take any circle - from the pie in this picture to the rings around Saturn. Any circle. If you divide its circumference by its diameter, the answer will always be the same: Pi. 

Pi = 3.14159265358979323846264338327950288419716939937510...

...and it goes on and on and on from there without ever developing a pattern!

Mathematicians and computer scientists have calculated Pi to 13.3 trillion decimal places, and it still just goes on and on and on from there!

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Here is the equation that always equals Pi:

The symbol for Pi is this Greek letter:

where C = the circumference of the circle,

and d = the diameter of the circle.

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More Fun Pi Facts:

Pi is considered an "irrational" number because it has an infinite number of decimal places that never repeat or form a pattern.

Pi is a "transcendental" number because it is not algebraic.

Pi is a "mathematical constant" because it's always the answer you get when you divide the circumference of any circle by the diameter. No matter the circle, no matter the size, this mystifying number is always the same.

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Pi Should Be Delicious!

Pi Day is the perfect excuse to have pie for breakfast, lunch, dinner and dessert! Check it out:

Series: People Like Pie

From the Roman Empire to the Industrial Revolution, pie has been at the table, witness to it all. Follow this recipe serice to travel with me to cook some of the greatest pies of all time, from the dinner tables of nobles and peasants alike.