This story is free to read because readers choose to support LAist. If you find value in independent local reporting, make a donation to power our newsroom today.
Happy Pi Day from the Pi Guy
Listen
0:00
Listen
Math lovers celebrate March 14 (or "3-14") as Pi Day.
The Greek letter pi represents the mathematical constant that equals a circle's circumference divided by its diameter. The world's most famous irrational number is usually shortened to 3.14 — but not for Marc Umile.
In January, the 40-year-old from Upper Darby, Pa., became the North American record-holder for memorizing pi: He made it to the 12,887th digit.
Umile says he has always been fascinated with human memory.
"For anybody who wants to know how good their memory is, pi is the ultimate test of finding that out," Umile tells Robert Siegel.
A love of music helped Umile memorize the digits of pi. He says he separated the numbers into clusters of 2, 4 and 6, and he also recorded himself reciting pi, and listened to it repeatedly.
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. 9(MDA1OTI3MjQ5MDEyODUwMTE2MzM1YzNmZA004))
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our connected community. We are free to tell the full truth, to hold power to account without fear or favor, and to follow facts wherever they lead. Our only loyalty is to our audiences and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen our community.
Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive from readers like you will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive from readers like you will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
