PI DAY GENERATES ANNUAL BUZZ

Lake Superior State University’s School of Mathematics and Computer Science celebrated the 300th anniversary of the creation of “Pi” by inviting area students to compete in a poster creation contest.

Eastern Upper Peninsula school children in grades K-12 worked on posters that demonstrate “The Ubiquity of Pi.” Prizes were awarded to those who do the best job of showing how pi, the Greek name for the number that relates the circumference to the diameter of a circle, is commonly found in our everyday lives.

“Pi is found in many places and has many applications in mathematics and in life,” said LSSU math professor Lorraine Gregory, who is organizing the competition. “We’re hoping the students have fun with it and that it helps them become interested in mathematics.” LSSU students have been invited to participate, also.

Pi is equal to approximately 3.14 and is calculated easiest by finding the circumference and the diameter of a circle, then dividing the circumference by the diameter. In 1706, Welsh mathematician William Jones first used the Greek letter to represent the number. The LSSU Mathematics and Computer Science Department annually celebrate Pi Day on 3.14 (March 14).

Scientists and mathematicians have noted the ubiquity of pi in nature, including the disks of the moon and the sun, the double helix of DNA, the rainbow, the human eye and more.

Submissions came from individuals and small groups of two or three people. The posters were on a 22 in. by 28 in. poster board and include mathematical content related to pi.

Teachers interested in PI Day 2008 should contact Gregory with questions. Reach her by writing lgregory@lssu.edu or by calling 635-2154.