Pi Day
Pi Day: Delicious Pi
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The taste of pi(e)
Who doesn’t like a slice of warm, delicious pie? Apple, pecan, or even chicken! Big or small, sweet or savory, pies of various kinds are eaten the world over. Pies are food with an edible lid, sides, and bottom. Come to think of it, the pie is a masterpiece of gastronomical engineering.
It is something of a wonderful coincidence that it was an ancient Greek who first proposed a method for calculating the digits of π and an ancient Greek who first invented pie pastry. To be fair, the ancient Egyptians did have a pie-like dish called a galette.
Passed on from generation to generation, each culture around the world has added its own unique ‘taste’ to the humble pie. Barring a few exceptions, all pies are round, which makes them the perfect food with which to celebrate Pi Day!
important-tip primary
Learn More
To learn more about the history of pies visit A shortcrust history of pies and The History of Pie.
Learn more about Pi in part 1 of this Nerd Out series.
The π in pie
Because most pies are circular, π shows up automatically. For example, the circumference $C$ of a pie is calculated as
\[ C = 2\pi r \]
The area $A$ of the surface of a pie is calculated as
\[ A = \pi r^2 \]
Knowing the circumference and area can help you work out how much crust you need. But what about the filling? Well, the volume $V$ of a pie is calculated as
\[ V = \pi r^2h \] where $h$ is the height of the pie.
When it comes to cutting a pie into equal slices, π shows up again. To divide a pie into equal slices, the central angle $\theta$ of each slice (measured in radians) must be equal. If there are n slices, this angle will be
\[ \theta = \frac{2 \pi}{n} \]
So, if you cut a pie into 6 equal slices, each angle will be
\[ \theta = \frac{ 2\pi}{6} = \frac{\pi}{3} \]
Have a think primary
What is a radian?
Radians are another way to measure angles. One radian is the angle formed by tracing along the circumference of a circle the same distance as the radius of that circle.
One full revolution is exactly 2π radians.
Bake some pi(e)
I don’t know about you, but just thinking of all these pies is making me hungry! It is time to bake your own pie using your favorite recipe. Make sure that you decorate the top with your homage to the mathematical constant π.
When you are done, share your masterpiece at #NextEngineersDIY before you eat it!
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