A 'slice' of the pi

“The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge, but imagination.” – Albert Einstein

Today is a day Einstein would have enjoyed.  It’s National Pi Day.  Pi is a mathematical constant,  one of the first ever discovered.  It’s the ratio of the distance around a circle to the circle’s diameter.  This produces a number, and that number is always the same. However, the number is rather strange. It starts 3.141592653... and continues without end,  and it's quite helpful in solving problems or making discoveries, something Einstein was pretty good at.

Celebrating National Pi Day on 3-14 makes sense because the first three numbers are, of course, 3-14.  But this year it is especially meaningful for those who think about such things because it’s 3-14-15 – the first five numbers.  And, at 9:26 and 53 seconds a.m. and p.m. it’s the first 10 digits in a row – and, well, you get the picture.

I think Einstein would especially like National Pi Day (something that wasn’t celebrated while he was still alive) because it also falls on his birthday.  Einstein probably would have had as much fun with that as anyone, because he often showed that he had a great sense of humor to go along with his brainy abilities. 

  

He once noted that people should never kiss and drive at the same time.  Because, he added, then you aren't giving the kiss the proper amount of attention it deserves.   He also said – probably with a bit too much modesty – that he didn’t keep a notebook of his great ideas because “I’ve only ever had one."

 

 A final note from this great scientist, scholar and teacher.  “Learn from yesterday, live for today, and hope for tomorrow.  The important thing is not to stop questioning.” Great advice for writers ... and don’t forget to have a slice of pie with that.

 

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