Pi Day: Why Pi Day Is Celebrated On March 14

Every year, Pi Day (π) is observed on March 14 across the world to recognise the mathematical constant. Pi Day is celebrated on March 14 based on its approximate value - 3.14, which is written in the format of month/day (3/14). Pi Day is celebrated with various mathematic quizzes and competition which help students to stand out in the exams. Let's explore Pi Day history, Pi Day facts and why is Pi Day celebrated.

When Is Pi Day Celebrated?

Pi Day is celebrated on March 14 going by the month and date format in the annual calendar. Usually, the celebrations of Pi Day starts at 1:59 pm on March 14 that becomes the approximate value of the Pi (3.14159) in the format - month/day/time.

Pi Day History

An American Physicist Larry Shaw organises the first Pi Day in 1988 at the San Francisco Exploratorium. In 2009, the US House of Representatives passed a non-binding resolution to recognise March 14 as National Pi Day. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has decided to celebrate Pi Day (March 14) as the International Day of Mathematics in its 40th General Conference, November 2019.

Pi Day Facts

Physicist Larry Shaw celebrated the first Pi Day in 1988.
The Pi symbol (π) was discovered by William Jones in 1706.
A Pi is an irrational number.
The first to calculate the Pi was Archimedes of Syracuse.
Pi can't be expressed as a common fraction.
German-born theoretical physicist Albert Einstein was born on Pi Day (March 14) in 1879.
Stephen Hawking expired in 2018 on Pi day.

Pi Day Quotes

Albert Einstein, "Everything should be as simple as possible, but not simpler."
Isaac Newton, "Truth is ever to be found in the simplicity, and not in the multiplicity and confusion of things."
Stephen Hawking, "Equations are just the boring part of mathematics. I attempt to see things in terms of geometry."
Leonardo da Vinci, "No human investigation can be called real science if it cannot be demonstrated mathematically."