Piece of Pi

Pi as a number is commonly recognized for its relevance in geometry and algebra. Pi is essential to equations involving the area or volume of circles, and is constantly undergoing slight changes as mathematicians calculate it more accurately. Pi is a decimal constant that is irrational, meaning the digits after the decimal point are infinite and non-repetitive, though it is often rounded to 3.14 for the sake of simplicity. Pi Day isn’t simply to commemorate pi; it is also used to celebrate pie, which is a homonym of pi. Families often go out on Pi Day to buy pies, bake pies, have pie contests of any sort, and of course, eat pie. From pumpkin and key lime to apple and chocolate, there are lots of flavors to choose from. When asked what her favorite type of pie is, junior Kaitlyn Shaw explained, “Well, you see, I like strawberry pie, because other warm fruits are disgusting. But strawberry is an exception. It’s pretty snazzy.” Three members of Wired—Mia Lee, Hannah Buening, and Grace Richards— each have heard of pie day, though only two of them celebrate it. When asked her favorite flavor, Grace replied, “I don’t like pie. [Wait], whipped cream pie.” After surveying 105 students at Nease, it was found that the most popular flavor is apple pie. Other commonly liked flavors include pumpkin, lemon, key lime, and chocolate.