Beware the Pi of March

This article was published in Scientific American’s former blog network and reflects the views of the author, not necessarily those of Scientific American

Happy Pi Day.

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3.1416 - that's as far as I have ever remembered the value for Pi. And Lookit. That's today's date.

But what is Pi exactly?

Pi is the relationship between the diameter  (width of a circle) and it's circumference (the distance around the outside of the circle. Ok, I admit it. I had to look it up.

But hey, don't take my and wikipedia's word for it. Go out and see for your self. 

Try this!

1. Take a cylinder such as a can or cannister.

2. Take a piece of string (yarn, ribbon, tape, etc) secure it across the exact middle of of the top. 

3. Measure that piece out (mark it or cut a piece).

4. Repeat this step or use the original string to cut out 3 additional pieces of string.

5. Now stretch out a longer piece of string.

6. Wrap another piece of string around the can. Mark or cut that piece.

Now lay out your strings and compare.