AE/MS continued their celebration of Pi in March. Students memorized an impressively large number of digits of Pi.

Pi has been calculated to over one trillion digits beyond its decimal point. As an irrational and transcendental number, it will continue infinitely without repetition or pattern. While only a handful of digits are needed for typical calculations, Pi’s infinite nature makes it a fun challenge to memorize, and to computationally calculate more and more digits.

The AE/MS 2017 School Champion is Oliver Andrews. Andrew recited 160 digits! This broke the record of 110 digits previously held by Jesse Niemyer. Jesse Niemyer, also an impressive Pi’er, recited 48 digits!

The top winners received Pi tee shirts, copies of the Sir Cumference and the Dragon of Pi book, Pi tattoos, Pi earrings, and more.

Pi Day is celebrated on March 14 around the world. AE/MS celebrated the following day this year as there was no school on March 14. Pi is the symbol used in mathematics to represent a constant — the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter — which is approximately 3.14159.

Twenty-seven students participated in the Pi Challenge. Special recognition also goes to Carter Wheeler, Wyatt Carleton, Eliza McDonald, Jon Grodin, Jeremy Johnson, and Jed Duquette.

Community members are always welcome to join the Pi Challenge. It’s not too soon to start memorizing!