Two different takes on Pi(e)

Yes, there is a day for just about everything. Appropriately, March 14 (3/14) is designated as National Pi  Day.

While in high school math class I was introduced to Pi - and its magical secrets. 

Years later, thanks to a local baker, secrets of another “Pie” were revealed to me. Just how complicated can it be to make a pie crust that consists of only four ingredients? Apparently quite complicated as my failed attempts over time can attest. But one baker in this area has certainly mastered the technique.

Except for the phonetical pronunciation of the two words and the fact they both involve circles, that’s about all one can say about the similarities of Pi and Pie.

As I am not a specialist of either, I will yield to those who are.

Meet Ogden High School math teacher Christina Janssen-Solheim whose classes celebrate Pi Day annually.

She defines Pi as an irrational number that results from taking the circumference (distance around) of a circle and dividing by the diameter (distance across).

“But there are many  ways to calculate it ranging from basic summation to calculus,” explains Janssen. “Therefore, if there is a circle involved, then so is Pi. That includes, for example formulas for circles, spheres, cones and cylinders.”

Read more in the March 15 issue of The Ogden Reporter.

PHOTO ID: OHS math instructor Christina Janssen-Solheim appreciates how hard her students work throughout the year and feels they deserve one day of fun. The senior calculus students had no problem devouring a slice of pie at 9 o’clock in the morning last Friday. Left, Kami Wheelock, Kennedy Kruse, and Janssen record the moment for posterity.