Pi Day 2014

Pi Day is celebrated on March 14th (3/14) around the world. Pi (Greek letter “π”) is the symbol used in mathematics to represent a constant — the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter — which is approximately 3.14159.

Pi has been calculated to over one trillion digits beyond its decimal point. As an irrational and transcendental number, it will continue infinitely without repetition or pattern. While only a handful of digits are needed for typical calculations, Pi’s infinite nature makes it a fun challenge to memorize, and to computationally calculate more and more digits.

pi day

The Powerhouse Museum, The Australian Mathematics Trust and the Australian Museum are pleased to offer a series of session celebrating Pi Day. Join us on the 14 March 2014 to learn more about this amazing constant.

International Pi Day- Primary School

Time: 10:00

Overview: To celebrate what has become known as International Pi Day, the Australian Mathematics Trust is presenting a special video conference event for school children hosted at the Australian Museum

International Pi Day: For Good Measure: Fun with measurement and standards
Time: 10:00

Overview: What do ‘Peter Piper’ and ‘Jack and Jill’ nursery rhymes have to do with maths and measurement? What are gills, bushels, pecks and the smoot? Find out in this special hands-on maths video

International Pi Day: For Good Measure: Fun with measurement and standards
Time: 11:30

Overview: What do ‘Peter Piper’ and ‘Jack and Jill’ nursery rhymes have to do with maths and measurement? What are gills, bushels, pecks and the smoot? Find out in this special hands-on maths video co…

International Pi Day – High School
Time: 13:00

Overview: To celebrate what has become known as International Pi Day, the Australian Mathematics Trust is presenting a special video conference event for school children hosted at the Australian Museum

International Pi Day: Babbage and his Difference Engine
Time: 14:00

Overview: Celebrate International Pi Day with an exciting session on the inventor of the computer, Charles Babbage! Powerhouse Museum’s Principal Curator, Matthew Connell, introduces students to one o…

See the Pi Day website for other ways your students can celebrate Pi Day

www.piday.org/2011/things-to-do-for-pi-day/

International Pi Day video conference

Do you know what’s special about the 14 March?

Thanks to the North American custom of writing the date backwards, 14 March looks like the circle constant Pi: 3.14

To celebrate what has become known as International Pi Day, Australian Numeracy Ambassador and mathematics comedian, Simon Pampena, is presenting a special video conference event for school children hosted at the Australian Museum.

“Pi captures all the wonders of mathematics in one simple idea. Divide the outside of a circle by its width and you’ll get a number. No matter if the circle was the size of your eye or the size of the sun, that number will always be the same,” Mr Pampena said.

“But you’ll never know what that number is exactly. It’s impossible because it goes on forever with no contraction. We have to give pi a special symbol to somehow contain its awesomeness…π”, he continued.

We will have students’ onsite at the Australian Museum and 13 schools connecting via video conferencing from across NSW. We are really excited to be able to help connect school so they can participate in this program.

The event is being held as part of the 2013 International Year of Mathematics of Planet Earth, which aims to increase public awareness of the critical utility of the mathematical sciences to solving problems of a global nature.