The Pi Day Contrarian

I may be the only person on the Internet who, despite its namesake, finds “Pi Day” on March 14th completely irrational. Here’s why: It’s completely arbitrary. Only we in the U.S. write the date with the month before the day and year like mm/dd/yy. This violates everything sacred about significance in number systems. Normally, digits are ordered from most- to least-significant left to right or least- to most-significance. So, Pi Day including the year actually wouldn’t occur until 3141/59/27 or 31/41/5927, neither of which are real dates anyway. Therefore, Pi Day doesn’t actually exist. I propose a rational alternative definition of Pi Day to be July 22nd (22/7) of every year. Besides, red raspberries are in season in July and not in March so I can enjoy my favorite pie.

Ethan Miller, K8GU, is a regular contributor to AmateurRadio.com and writes from Maryland, USA. Contact him at [email protected].

6 Responses to “The Pi Day Contrarian”

  • Chris 2M0FFY:

    >irrational

    I see what you did there.

  • N8LOQ:

    I concur.
    73, Sid N8LOQ

  • kc0lrp:

    Pie are square not round.

  • Don N4KC:

    I’m with you, Ethan. At the very least, Pi Day won’t occur until next year, 2016. 3/14/16 if you do the proper rounding.

    Make mine peach cobbler, by the way…

    73,

    Don N4KC
    http://www.n4kc.com
    http://www.donkeith.com

  • Barry, VE7VIE/WV2J:

    I agree with the comments about the date format, since I now live in Canada! But I grew up in the vicinity of Princeton and was first licensed there so have some sympathy wit the event.

    73, Barry
    VE7VIE/WV2J ex WV2ECZ

    3.14159265358979. Memorized since I was a boy scout in Hunterdon Cty, NJ.

  • KF6JS Tony:

    ….and remember for a more accurate representation of PI using fractions try: 113355 and put your long-hand division sign between the 3’s! Making 113 go into 355 (like: 355/113). Just another of natures wonders! AND I’m not picky…I’ll take any berry pie! Ok, I’m of to look fer a Special-Event PI! Enjoy-n-73’s KF6JS – Tony

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