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‘PI’ Day observed at University of Science & Technology, Meghalaya.
14th March, 2017, USTM, Meghalaya : The department
of Mathematics at University of Science & Technology, Meghalaya had celebrated
Pi Day which is 30th celebration of the mathematical constant π (pi). Pi Day is
observed on March 14 since 3, 1, and 4 are the first three significant digits of
π. In 2009, the United States House of Representatives supported the designation
of Pi Day. The department of Mathematics at USTM being initiated in the academic
session 2016 had taken up this initiative to observe PI day in a bid to
motivate, encourage the students of mathematics so that they get to realize the
importance of the subject and the career options that they may take up in the
days ahead. The objective for observing PI day was to popularize the concept of
PI amongst the students of USTM – stated by the CoD, Dr. Gitumani Sarma.
The programme was inaugurated by Dr. P G Rao, VC, USTM followed by the
felicitation of the guest speaker, Dr. Prabin Das, retired professor, Arya
Vidyapith College. The students of the department had presented papers based on
various topics related to mathematics such as trigonometry, calculus, number
theory and graph theory. It was a group paper presentation competition. The
winners were Hirak Bora, Rokibul Hassan, Brijit Kalita, Vezhopalu and Akbar Raja
Rahamtullah and they were awarded with cash prize and certificate. Dr. Prabin
Das then elaborated on the concept of PI and its significance to resolve
mathematical problematics since the experiments started on mathematical formula
in ancient history. He had reminded the students that since the PI is an
irrational number and its complete value cannot be obtained, super computers are
being used by the mathematics scholars to calculate the infinite numbers implied
in the concept of PI. He had also alluded to the Rhind papyrus which is a famous
document from the Egyptian Middle Kingdom that dates to 1650 BC. It was
purchased by Henry Rhind in Egypt in 1858, and placed in the British Museum in
1864 by the estate of Henry Rhind. His speech ended with a note of assertion
that more we observe PI day, the concept of PI would be more popularized and
more information on “PI” can be generated to the readers.
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