What’s a math-inclined foodie’s favorite holiday? Pi Day!

3.14 just got tastier!

Geeks, farmers and bakers unite! March 14 is National Pi Day. What better way to celebrate mathematics favorite number during Bake and Take Month then by sharing a home-baked pie with family, friends and neighbors?

Pi Day

To explain, pi or π is the Greek letter used to represent the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter. No matter the size of the circle, this number stays the same – 3.14159.

This is the shortened version. As an irrational number, pi actually repeats indefinitely without repeating itself. In fact, mathematicians have calculated pi out to more than one trillion digits.

Pi Day celebrations are used to help encourage studying science, engineering and mathematics, which is why the U.S. House of Representatives in 2009 officially recognized March 14 as a Pi Day. This year, for the first time in 100 years, the date and time on Pi Day will align with the first 10 digits of pi. Specifically, set the clock for 3.14.15 at 9:26:53.

Besides as an excuse for a tasty treat, pi can be used to make useful calculations in the kitchen and on the farm. For example, pi can be used to calculate the area of a pie. Area equals Pi multiplied by the radius (distance from the center to the edge of the circle) squared. Or A = πr2

The same equation applies for measuring the area of an irrigation circle. Just convert square feet to acres at the end of the calculation.

Or, use pi to find the volume of a grain bin (a cylinder). Take the area of the base (a circle) multiplied by the height of the bin. Or V = πr2h

Then convert cubic feet to bushels.

But, the easiest way to celebrate Pi Day is to break out the oven mitts and bake a pie. There is even an official pie pan for Pi Day. Because this pan will not utilize a premade pie crust, try out Betty Kandt’s Apple Pie from the National Festival of Breads.

Crazy about pie? Learn more about how the wheat in pie crust is grown! Or celebrate more circles with these Chocolate Pinwheel Cookies!

Pi Day is the perfect celebration of STEM-based learning and tasty, tasty food!

Author: Jordan Hildebrand