The Magic of Number Pi

Way back in time, Egyptians were familiar with the number Pi (although it wasn't called Pi until much later). They calculated it to be approximately 3.1604. Apart from Egyptians Pi was known by ancient Babylonians, Indians and Greeks.

Archimedes who lived 287-212 BC found an approximation of Pi by inscribing regular polygons with 96 sides outside and inside a circle. He proved that 223/71 < Pi < 22/7 and found that pi is somewhere about 3.1419.

Seven hundred years later, Chinese mathematician Zu Chongzhi showed that 3.1415926 < Pi < 3.1415927. His approximation of the number Pi stayed the most accurate for the next 900 years.

In the 17th century Pi was called the Ludolphian number, after German mathematician Ludolph van Ceulen who spent a major part of his life calculating the numerical value of Pi.

The first person to use the Greek letter Pi for the number was an English mathematician William Jones.

Modern day scientists have used the power of computers to calculate many billions decimals of the constant Pi.

Pi Day is a holiday held to celbrate the number Pi. Since 3.14 is a rough approximation of the constant Pi and the American date format for March 14th is 3/14 it was only logical to choose March 14th as the perfect date for Pi Day.

The Pi Day tradition started in 1988. The founder of Pi Day is physicist Larry Shaw also known by his prolific nickname: the "Prince of Pi."

Traditional Pi Day food choice is nothing other than pie. All sorts of pies are acceptable as long as their shape is round.

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