The High Holy Day of Mathematics is nigh. Hardcore worship, in fact, arrives 3/14/15 at 9:26:53 a.m. (and p.m., unless you’re on military time).
That’s when the date and time represents the first 10 digits of the decimal representation of J, or pi.
Pi is revered in the math world — close your eyes, humanities majors, nothing to see here — since it is the mathematical constant. And each March 14 is when Pi Day is observed.
In 2009, Congress even passed a nonbinding resolution recognizing March 14 as National Pi Day.
But this year, Pi Day holds special reverence because of the perfect sequence of numbers: 3.141592653.
Still, some argue that a second later — 9:26:54 — is more accurate since the 11th digit of J — 5 — would cause the 10th digit to round up to 4.
Controversy aside, the frivolity ensues as several local schools and universities, including the will pay tribute to pi with contests such as taking pi to the highest number of decimal places.
Pie-eating and pie-throwing competitions also are planned.
The , N.J., however, takes Pi Day to a different level. Officials combine Pi Day and Albert Einstein’s birthday, also March 14. In additional to the usual contests, there is an annual Einstein look-alike contest.
Pi, by the by, is the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter.
