Pi Day Philippines

Feb 23, 2023

What is Pi?

What is Pi?

Pi Logo

Pi (π) is a mathematical constant that represents the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter. It is a non-repeating, non-terminating decimal, which means that its decimal representation goes on infinitely without repeating any pattern. The value of pi is approximately 3.14159265358979323846..., but it has been calculated to trillions of digits using computer algorithms. Pi is an important constant in mathematics, physics, engineering, and many other fields, and its precise value has practical applications in a variety of scientific and technical contexts.

What is the history of Pi?

The history of pi is a long and complex one, dating back thousands of years to ancient civilizations such as the Babylonians, Egyptians, and Greeks. These early civilizations realized that there was a relationship between the circumference of a circle and its diameter, and they developed various methods for approximating this relationship.

The first recorded calculation of pi was done by the ancient Egyptian scribe Ahmes around 1650 BCE, who approximated pi as 3.16. Later, in the 5th century BCE, the Greek mathematician Hippocrates of Chios approximated pi as 3.125, while the Greek mathematician Archimedes used a method of inscribed and circumscribed polygons to estimate pi more accurately as 3.1418.

The symbol for pi (π) was first used by the Welsh mathematician William Jones in 1706, and was later popularized by the Swiss mathematician Leonhard Euler in the 18th century.

In the 19th and 20th centuries, mathematicians continued to make advances in the calculation and understanding of pi. The French mathematician Adrien-Marie Legendre developed a formula for calculating pi using an infinite series in 1794, while the Indian mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan discovered many new and interesting properties of pi in the early 20th century.

Today, pi is still the subject of much research and fascination among mathematicians and scientists. It is an irrational number, meaning that its decimal expansion never repeats and never ends, and it has been calculated to trillions of digits using powerful computers. Pi is used in a wide range of fields, from mathematics and physics to engineering and computer science, and continues to be a source of fascination and inspiration for people all over the world.

Feb 23, 2023

What is the symbol of Pi?

The symbol for pi (π) is a lowercase Greek letter that has been used for thousands of years to represent the mathematical constant pi, which is the ratio of a circle's circumference to its diameter.

The symbol for pi was first used by the Welsh mathematician William Jones in 1706, in his book "Synopsis Palmariorum Matheseos" ("A New Introduction to the Mathematics"). However, it was the Swiss mathematician Leonhard Euler who popularized the use of the symbol in the 18th century. Euler used the symbol extensively in his mathematical writings, and it quickly became the standard symbol for pi in mathematical notation.

The use of Greek letters in mathematics dates back to ancient Greece, where the Greek alphabet was used to represent numbers as well as letters. The Greeks used the letter "pi" (pronounced "pee") to represent the sound "p", and it was later adopted as the symbol for the mathematical constant pi because of its sound similarity to the word "periphery", which is related to the concept of a circle's circumference.

Today, the symbol for pi is widely recognized and used in mathematics, science, and engineering, as well as in popular culture. It has become a cultural icon, associated with intellectual pursuits and scientific knowledge. The symbol for pi is a testament to the enduring power and influence of ancient Greek culture and mathematics, which continue to shape and inspire our understanding of the world today.

Feb 23, 2023

Why Celebrate Pi Day?

Pi Day is celebrated on March 14th (3/14 in the American date format) because the first three digits of pi are 3.14. Pi Day is a celebration of the mathematical constant pi, which is the ratio of a circle's circumference to its diameter.

Pi Day was first celebrated by physicist Larry Shaw in 1988 at the Exploratorium in San Francisco. Shaw, who worked at the museum, organized a celebration on March 14th at 1:59 PM (which corresponds to the first six digits of pi, 3.14159), which included marching around a circular space while eating fruit pies.

Since then, Pi Day has become a popular event in the mathematics and science communities, and is celebrated in many schools, museums, and other institutions around the world. The purpose of Pi Day is to promote an appreciation of math and science, and to raise awareness of the important role that pi and other mathematical constants play in our lives. Pi Day is a fun and educational way to celebrate the beauty and complexity of mathematics.

Feb 23, 2023

Pi-noy Pi

We found some Filipino words that have similar sounding parts to the mathematical symbol pi:

  • Pilipino - This refers to the Filipino language or people, and the first syllable "Pi" sounds similar to "pi" in English.
  • Pintig - This means "beat" or "pulse" in Filipino, and the "pi" sound is similar to the first syllable of "pi".
  • Pintura - This means "paint" in Filipino, and the "pi" sound is similar to the first syllable of "pi".
  • Pinto - This means "door" in Filipino, and the "pi" sound is similar to the first syllable of "pi".
  • Piskal - This refers to a fiscal or financial officer, and the "pi" sound is similar to the first syllable of "pi".
  • Pilar - This is a Spanish-derived name that's commonly used in the Philippines, and the "pi" sound is similar to the first syllable of "pi".
  • Pintasan - This means "to scratch" or "to scrape" in Filipino, and the "pi" sound is similar to the first syllable of "pi".
  • Pipino - This means "cucumber" in Filipino, and the "pi" sound is similar to the first syllable of "pi".

Did you enjoy them? There's always more Pi in the Philippines!

Feb 23, 2023

Fun Facts About Pi?

Here are 20 fun facts about Pi!

  • Pi is an irrational number, which means it cannot be expressed as a simple fraction and has an infinite number of decimal places.

  • The symbol for pi (π) was first used in 1706 by the Welsh mathematician William Jones.

  • The first 50 digits of pi are: 3.14159265358979323846264338327950288419716939937510.

  • The Guinness World Record for memorizing the most digits of pi is currently held by Rajveer Meena of India, who recited 70,000 digits of pi in 2015.

  • Pi is used in many mathematical formulas and equations, including the formulas for the area and circumference of a circle.

  • Pi has been studied for thousands of years, and the ancient Egyptians and Babylonians were among the first to calculate approximate values of pi.

  • Pi has been calculated to over 31 trillion decimal places, but most calculations are done to far fewer decimal places.

  • Pi is an important constant in physics, appearing in equations for the force of gravity, fluid mechanics, and other areas of study.

  • Pi is used in many practical applications, including engineering, architecture, and computer graphics.

  • The value of pi can be approximated using the Monte Carlo method, which uses random sampling to estimate a value.

  • Pi Day is celebrated on March 14th (3/14) every year.

  • Albert Einstein's birthday is also on March 14th, which some people see as a coincidence, while others see it as evidence of the universe's hidden patterns.

  • The Indiana State Legislature passed a bill in 1897 that attempted to "square the circle" by setting the value of pi at 3.2, but the bill was eventually rejected.

  • The digits of pi have been encoded in music, with each digit representing a different musical note.

  • In 2016, Google employee Emma Haruka Iwao calculated the value of pi to a record-breaking 31.4 trillion decimal places using cloud computing.

  • The symbol for pi is a lowercase Greek letter that has been used for thousands of years to represent the mathematical constant.

  • Pi has inspired numerous works of art, including paintings, sculptures, and music.

  • In the movie "Contact", Jodie Foster's character uses a prime number sequence hidden within pi to make contact with aliens.

  • The world's largest pi-related memorabilia collection is held by a man named Bob Sachs, who has collected over 6,000 items related to pi.

  • Some people celebrate Pi Approximation Day on July 22nd (22/7 in the European date format), which is a common approximation of pi.

Feb 23, 2023

Fun Facts About Pi in the Philippines

Here are some fun Pi related trivia in the Philippines

  • The Filipino mathematician Rafael M. Santos discovered a new formula for pi in 1992, which was later called the "Santos pi formula". This formula allows for the calculation of any digit of pi without having to calculate the preceding digits.

  • In the Philippines, there is a street called "Pi Street" in the town of General Santos. The street was named in honor of the mathematical constant pi, and it even features a large pi symbol on a street sign.

  • The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) in the Philippines holds an annual "Pi Day" celebration on March 14th, which includes a math quiz bee, a pi memorization contest, and other activities.

  • In 2015, a group of Filipino students from the University of the Philippines Diliman set a new Guinness World Record for the largest human pi symbol. The record was set with 2,530 participants forming the symbol on a football field.

  • Filipino-American mathematician Dr. Eduardo C. Sison is known for his work on the approximation of pi and other mathematical constants. He has published several papers on the topic and is a member of the Mathematical Association of America.

  • The National Museum of the Philippines has a "Pi Exhibit" which features various mathematical and scientific displays related to pi.

  • The Philippines has produced several prominent mathematicians, including Dr. Jose Rizal, who was also a national hero and writer.

  • In 2014, the DOST released a free mobile app called "MathDali" which includes a pi calculator and other mathematical tools.

  • The University of the Philippines Diliman has a statue of a globe with pi written on it, which is a popular spot for photos.

  • The Pi Sigma Pi Mathematics Society is a student organization in the Philippines that promotes interest and excellence in mathematics.

  • The International School Manila holds an annual "Pi Day Run" to raise funds for various charitable causes.

  • In 2019, a team of Filipino high school students won a silver medal at the International Mathematics Competition held in Hong Kong.

  • In the Philippines, pi is sometimes referred to as "piso" which is also the word for the Philippine peso currency.

  • In 2013, the DOST partnered with the Mathematical Association of America to host the Philippine Mathematical Olympiad.

  • The Ateneo de Manila University has a "Pi Hour" event every year where students and faculty gather to celebrate pi.

  • Filipino-American mathematician Dr. James Simons is a renowned mathematician and philanthropist who has made significant contributions to the study of pi and other mathematical concepts.

  • The University of Santo Tomas in Manila offers several degree programs in mathematics, including a bachelor's degree in mathematics with a specialization in actuarial science.

  • The National Academy of Science and Technology in the Philippines is a prestigious organization that includes several renowned mathematicians as members.

  • The Philippine Mathematical Society is a professional organization for mathematicians in the Philippines that promotes research, education, and public awareness of mathematics.

  • The Polytechnic University of the Philippines offers a master's degree in mathematics education for students who wish to pursue careers as math teachers.