The Circle Bridge in Copenhagen, Denmark

© Lingxiao Xie/Getty Image

A circular celebration

It’s Pi Day, the day we celebrate the mathematical constant π. This day was chosen since today’s date (March 14) expressed numerically (in US format) matches the number’s first digits, 3.14. Pi represents the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter. It can be used to compute the area and circumference of a circle, such as the circles that make up the bridge we're looking at here in Copenhagen. (Who said maths wasn't useful in the real world?) Many towns, schools, and museums mark the day with festivities based around mathematics and, of course, serving pie. We can’t think of a more delicious way to study geometry.