Celebrate Pi Day - The Irrational Webquest!
Introduction:
The
mathematical constant , sometimes written as Pi, is approximately equal
to 3.14159... Each year, Pi Day is celebrated on March 14 by math
enthusiasts around the world. You have been selected to explore the
meaning of Pi and to celebrate Pi Day through online activities.
The Task:
To
prepare for these explorations, you will need to browse some lessons on
circumference and area of circles. Next, you will engage in web-based
inquiry to explore the meaning and history of Pi and calculations
involving Pi. You will also explore the history of Pi Day and how it is
celebrated. You can then celebrate Pi Day by engaging in online
activities of your own choosing. Links to resources on Pi and Pi Day are
provided. These tasks will require a computer, access to the web, paper
and pencil.
The Process:
Process Part I: Learning About Pi
- Browse our lesson on Circumference of a Circle.
- Complete the five interactive exercises at the end of this lesson.
- Browse our lesson on Area of a Circle.
- Complete the five interactive exercises at the end of this lesson.
- Try they interactive and printable wordsearch on circles after you circle each word you MUST click "check word".
- Find where/if your birthday (MM/DD/YYYY) appears in the digits of Pi by using the Pi-Search Page.
Process Part II: Learning About the Meaning and History of Pi
- What is the relationship between the symbol and the word Pi?
- Who was Pi first used by?
- The value of Pi comes from what ratio?
- How long has Pi been known?
- Why is Pi called a mathematical constant?
- Why does Pi continue infinitely?
- What is a transcendental number?
- What number did Egyptians first use for Pi?
- Why is Pi an irrational number?
- How many digits of Pi are known?
- The Greek letter used to represent Pi is an abbreviation of the Greek word meaning what?
- Which mathematicians first used the symbol ? Why?
Process Part III: Learning About Pi Day
- Why is Pi Day celebrated on March 14?
- For how many years has Pi Day been celebrated?
- March 14 is also whose birthday?
- Who tried to find the first calculation of Pi?
Links to help you answer the questions:
- Pi Day Celebration Page
- Pi History Page
- Learn About Pi Page
- Wikipedia Pi
- Ask Dr. Math about Pi
Evaluation:
- Print your wordsearch puzzle (using the Print Screen key of the keyboard)
- Create a word document and include the following (if you prefer to write the answers, then print out the worksheet:
- Your answers to the five interactive circumference questions
- Your answers to the five interactive area questions
- Your answers to the questions in "Process Parts II and III"
- The location of your birthdate in the digits of Pi
Conclusion:
Congratulations!
You learned about the meaning and history of Pi. You also learned about
Pi Day and celebrated through activities you found on the web.