Pi Day is observed on March 14th each year, when the month and day (3.14) make up the first 3 digits of the mathematical constant π (pi). Popular ways to celebrate Pi Day include eating pie and discussing the importance of the number. But you know what? That’s SO boring and, well, predictable… and especially ironic considering Pi is an irrational number. That means Pi’s decimals digits are never repeating or “predictable”, since if it did ever repeat, it would become predictable as you had seen the pattern before!

I propose something a helluva lot funner… and harder, to truly celebrate Pi Day and give it its dues. BE IRRATIONAL ALL DAY ON PI DAY!

And how does one go about being irrational?

I feel obliged to explain because most of the people celebrating Pi Day would be mathematically and/or scientifically inclined people who are mostly the most rational people on the planet. Mind you, on March 12, 2009, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a non-binding resolution (HRES 224),^[2] recognizing March 14, 2009, as National Pi Day. They’re not exactly the most rational people, if you know what I’m saying. But how appropriate it is that it were the most irrational people on the planet who decided to officially recognized Pi Day? All completely unpredictable, just like Pi’s irrationality.

So back to being irrational. You be irrational by being unpredictable, just like the nature of the digits in an irrational number. That doesn’t mean you have to be illogical, so you don’t have to create complete chaos all day. After all, each digit in an irrational number is still confined to the range of 0 to 9. It just means you be logical, where you choose to, in an unpredictable manner. Maybe in your calculated decision, you now value something more than you used to, enough to draw a different conclusion than you might otherwise have. But do this seamlessly, as if you didn’t have to think about it, so see how quick your wits really are. And, of course, where you can, just be completely irrational to surprise others and throw them off. 🙂

For rational people, I bet this would be rather difficult! It actually is even for regular people, cause we’re all human, and humans are creatures of habit, above all else. We’re so predictable when you really think about it.

So this Pi Day, are you just gonna eat pie and talk pi?

Maybe even discuss Life of Pi?

Or are you going to be irrational?

p.s. If you don’t normally bring pie to share with others at work or home, that’s an irrational act right there, so you can have the best of both worlds. Maybe make them eat pie, but earn it by telling you the 4th and 5th digits of Pi (easy) or some other digits deeper into the chain (hard). Unless you know you’ve got people willing to do the latter, I recommend the former unless you want to eat all the pie you brought! There is no mathematical dieting day that I know of!

p.p.s. Happy Birthday to Albert Einstein on March 14th as well! One of the most rational men was born on an irrational commemorating day! Well, Pi Day didn’t exist then (only since 1988 or so), but you get the idea. I think Einstein would have LOVED the idea of celebrating his birthday with Pi Day!