March 2, 2004

Contact: Gordon Ovenshine: 724-738-4854; gordon.ovenshine@sru.edu

SRU MATH STUDENTS TO MARK ‘PI DAY’ WITH PIE THROW

SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – If one day of the year screams “party” in math class, that day is March 14 – Pi Day.

 Pi Day gives math students a reason to celebrate the number 3.14… At Slippery Rock University, students will submit their answers to the Pi Day Scavenger Hunt at 1:59 p.m. March 14 (that’s 3/14 1:59, the first six digits of Pi.)

Then a student will throw a pie at a math professor.

“Out of all the people who solve the Scavenger Hunt, one name will be chosen and that person will get to pie a professor of his or her choice from a group of volunteers,” says SRU’s Dr. Robert Vallin, associate professor math, co-creator of Pi Day festivities with Assistant Professor Lyn Miller.

Recognized by math teachers worldwide, Pi Day enables math classes to break from the normal routine and plan events in honor of the number. March 14 is Albert Einstein’s birthday.

The Scavenger Hunt includes 12 questions such as “Find a place where Pi is mentioned in the Bible,” “In what year did the Indiana State Legislature try to regulate the value of Pi,”  and “Who directed the movie ‘Pi?’”

           Students received the Scavenger Hunt on March 1.

Editor’s Note: The pie throw will be held at 3:30 p.m., Room 204 Vincent Science Hall.

#PN, PgN, PR