I may have learnt all about the Greek letter pi at school and its significance in maths for calculating things to do with circles, but it’s actually something else that I remember it for.
In a special episode of Dr.Who, broadcast as part of “Children in Need”, the Master skipped across a chequered floor and retorted “try it Doctor, it’s as easy as pi”, to which the Doctor eventually muttered “3.14159265”.
I remember that scene so clearly, that it has helped me to memorise the beginning of pi for years. Since most people only remember the 3.14 bit, it’s almost showing off to know so many numbers in it, and yet there are a handful of people out there who have memorised a lot more of them.
So I guess they in particular will have celebrated pi day last Friday. Now, I know it’s an important number, but does it really need a day named after it?
As easy as pi?
March 18, 2008 By Leave a Comment
About GrahamGraham Tappenden is a British ex-pat who first came to Germany as a placement student in 1993, returning in 1995 to live there permanently. He has been writing for AllThingsGerman.net since 2006. When not writing blog posts or freelancing for the Oberurseler Woche and other publications he works as a self-employed IT consultant and online community manager. In 2016 he gained German citizenship.
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