Middle School Students Celebrate Pi Day with Pizza

March 14 is a day to celebrate the mathematical constant pi (π) and to eat lots of pie. Pi Day celebrates the mathematical constant π (3.14). It is celebrated in countries that follow the month/day (m/dd) date format, because the digits in the date, March 14 or 3/14, are the first three digits of π (3.14).
 
Most people know the first few digits of Pi and know it relates to circles, but how many know how Pi came about?
 
On March 11, the Middle School celebrated Pi Day a few days early. Each grade attended a presentation on why Pi exists through a demonstration with pizza. Ms. Newman, Mathematics Department Chair and Instructor, cut the crust of one pizza slice and laid it straight across the center of four pizzas. The students were asked what part of a circle is represented by the crust and what part is the length across each pizza (circumference and diameter). The students then recognized that the crust (circumference) goes across 3 whole pizzas and a little bit of the 4th pizza! What does this seem to represent? The answer is Pi!
 
The circumference divided by the diameter of any circle will always give you Pi (3.141592653...). After the presentation, each student was able to enjoy a slice of pizza thanks to the generosity of our Gerstell Academy Parents' Association.
Back
2500 Old Westminster Pike
Finksburg, MD 21048-1823
410-861-3000
1-866-861-3300