GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Today, March 14, is a day noted by math enthusiasts around the world. it celebrates the number Pi, which first three numbers align with the date.
Pi is the symbol for the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter. Simply put, it’s the circumference of a circle divided by its diameter. It is irrational and transcendental, meaning it will continue infinitely without repeating. With the use of numbers, it has been calculated trillions of digits past the decimal point.
It was first used in 1706 by mathematician William Jones but made popular by Leonhard Euler in 1737. In 2009, the United States House of Representatives officially designated March 14 as Pi Day to draw attention to improving math and science skills.
As a play on words, one Michigan company is fittingly recognizing the day.
Grand Traverse Pie Company is celebrating Pi Day with all customers that stop by to any of their stores.
“So you just have to make a purchase. So with any purchase, you’ll get a free slice of our ABC pie, which again, is just made with Michigan apples, blueberries, and cherries,” Charlie Olson, media relations for G.T. Pie Company, explains.
There’s also an extra touch to their Michigan ABC Crumb Pie for the celebration.
“And a little fun twist. Instead of our typical crust and toppings, you’ll actually have a little bit of a pie symbol, right on top of the pie. It’s a fun, a fun little twist on pie day as well,” Olson said.
It’s also a day to support Michigan Food and Agriculture Month, which is during March.
“The local community of agriculture in Michigan is a huge part of why we believe in what we’re doing. And we like to support them any way that we can,” Olson said. “And this is just our small way to give a little bit of recognition to them. And we couldn’t do what we do without them, simply put,” he added.
Grand Traverse Pie Company features three locations in West Michigan: Grand Rapids, Norton Shores, and Portage. The ABC portion of the crumb pie is made with Northern Spy Apples, Rubel Blueberries, and Montmorency Cherries, all Michigan products.
As for the symbol, swiss researchers in 2021 claimed a new record for calculating the number of digits of pi – a staggering 62.8 trillion figures.
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