What a delicious day!
March 14 is Pi Day in honor of the mathematical constant representing the ratio of a circle’s circumference (outer circle) to its diameter (side-to-side), which is approximately equal to 3.14159.
Consequently, math geeks, pizza lovers and pie aficionados use 3/14 as a reason to celebrate every year.
For girl dads, Pi Day is a chance to educate as well as to relish a delicious treat.
A teaching moment
You can demonstrate how circles are measured by using a flexible tape measure or ribbon.
To determine the circumference, hold the tape measure at the top of the plate and have your daughter measure the distance to go completely around the plate.
Then have her determine the diameter by measuring from top to bottom. Multiplying the diameter by three should come close to the circumference.
Or, have your daughter use a calculator to divide the circumference by the diameter and it should be really close to 3.14.
Pi Day is also an opportunity for dads to explain that, despite what society may tell us, some things are always true and pi is one of those.
Pi is not an equation. It is what is known as a mathematical constant. Expressing it in decimals is infinite and nonrepeating.
In fact, pi is considered to be an “irrational number” because its digits go on forever without repeating. Currently, more than 314 trillion decimal places have been computed.
A jokester of a girl-dad could promise his daughter she can have a piece of her favorite pie or pizza just by counting out or writing 1 trillion numbers.
It should take about 31,688 YEARS for her to complete the task. Explain that by reciting one digit a second, it would take the average person 31.9 years to count from one to 1 trillion.
A fun treat
Make the celebration of Pi Day personal by cooking a pie or making a pizza with your daughter.
An easy thing to do is buy two ready-made pie crusts along with a can of her favorite filling. Have her put the bottom crust into a pie tin and add the filling, then have her carefully place the top crust in position and have her pinch the top to the bottom.
Make a few slices in the top for steam to escape or you will also get to teach her what happens when steam has no way to get released. Then bake as directed on the package.
Making a pizza is another fun dad-daughter activity on Pi Day. Most grocery stores sell ready-made pizza crusts, but you can also use pita flatbread.
Spread some tomato sauce over the crust and let her apply her favorite toppings. Younger girls can count out the ingredients, like pepperoni, as she places them on the crust. Place the crusts on a baking sheet and bake as directed on the package.
Truly ambitious fathers can help their daughters make crust from scratch. Just be prepared for a world-class mess.
As you enjoy the treat, remind your daughter of everything she learned that day, and encourage her to stay interested in math.
Congratulations, you just scored extra Father of the Year points on Pi Day!
