On this day, one of the most unusual holidays is celebrated in the world. -
"Pi Day"

The number π is a mathematical constant expressing the ratio of the circumference of a circle to the length of its diameter.
Numerically, π begins as 3.141592 and has an infinite mathematical duration.
In American spelling, today's date looks like 3.14, hence the explanation why this holiday is celebrated on this day.

According to experts, this number was discovered by the Babylonian magicians. It was used in the construction of the famous Tower of Babel.

However, insufficiently accurate calculation of the value of Pi led to the collapse of the entire project. It is possible that this mathematical constant underlay the construction of the legendary Temple of King Solomon.

It is significant that the holiday of the Pi number coincides with the birthday of one of the most outstanding physicists of our time - Albert Einstein.

What kind of number is this? The number pi attracted the attention of people back in prehistoric times, when they could not write down their knowledge, their experiences, or their memories. But, as the immortal Teffi wrote, “everything that concerns ancient times and about which we know absolutely nothing is called the prehistoric period.

Scientists know absolutely nothing about this period (because if they did, it would have to be called historical). However, even then people became interested in the ratio of the circumference and its diameter.

At first, due to ignorance, it (this ratio) was considered equal to three, which was roughly approximate, but they were enough. But when prehistoric times gave way to ancient times (that is, already historical), then there was no limit to the surprise of inquisitive minds: it turned out that the number three very inaccurately expresses this ratio.
With the passage of time and the development of science, this number began to be considered equal to twenty-two-sevenths, about which they even put together a rhyme for memorization:

Twenty-two owls were bored
On big dry bitches.
Twenty-two owls dreamed
About seven big mice.

AT Ancient Greece exact sciences flourished just extraordinary, and architecture also appeared. And where architecture is, there are calculations. And the well-known Archimedes further clarified the meaning of the number pi, which was also reported to us in verse by a wonderful writer S.Bobrov in his wonderful book"Magic Bicorn":

Proud Rome trumpeted victory
Above the stronghold of Syracuse;
But the works of Archimedes
Much more I am proud.
We just have to try
And remember everything as it is:
Three - fourteen - fifteen -
Ninety-two and six!

For simple domestic use, these signs are already enough.

How to remember the number Pi

Mnemonic rules

In March 2014, Arthur set a new record for reproducing the number Pi, naming 11,106 characters without hesitation. He got into the "Book of Records of Russia" as a student. In addition, Arthur, as an expert on memory development, advises a well-known service on memorization issues, and while preparing for the record, he wrote a whole book called Remember Everything.

Arthur shared with us a story about how good habits and self-training can achieve amazing results, and also dispelled several popular misconceptions about mnemonics and memory.

How to remember tens of thousands of digits?

I am often asked what it is like to have a phenomenal memory: can I learn languages ​​in a matter of days, do I keep memories of every day I live, do I remember the books I read verbatim. At first it was nice to hear such questions, but now I immediately try to make it clear to new acquaintances that I have the most ordinary memory. The main thing is to understand how it works.

I was genuinely surprised when I read about people who were able to memorize decks of cards, numbers, long lists foreign words. Once I read about a person who can learn a language in two or three days, and I decided to seriously figure out how it works myself. At first, it seemed that training would allow me to someday learn to memorize languages ​​in the blink of an eye. Now I can say that no one can learn a language in two or three days. The fact is that in the book that inspired me, the words “learn a language” meant memorizing 1.5 thousand words.

Then he actively memorized numbers with a stopwatch, wanting to learn how to study foreign languages with astonishing speed.

“Why spend a year learning a language when you can develop a memory in six months and learn a language in a few days?” I thought as I continued to train.

Having learned to memorize a hundred digits in three minutes, I found out that the real Russian record at that time in memorizing the number Pi was only 8,332 characters. Why not set a new record? A great opportunity to stay motivated and better understand how memory works.

I decided to memorize 22,528 digits of pi. This is slightly more than the European record. In order to memorize so many numbers, I walked around Moscow and laid out my pre-compiled images of numbers on the streets. For example, the image for the number 01 is Schumacher, because he comes first in the races, for 92 - the image of my brother, because he was born in 1992. All 22 thousand digits of Pi for me is big story that took place on the streets of Moscow.

Here - 3998 digits of Pi, arranged in a three-dimensional spiral. Source: flickr.com

Absolutely everyone can beat my record. The most difficult thing is not to remember the numbers, but to reproduce them, because the rules of the record book do not allow you to correct yourself if you make a mistake. If you say "Twenty-five... oh, no, thirty-five!", it will be counted as a mistake, even if you immediately corrected it. I made a mistake on 11,106 characters, and now this is a new Russian record. If someone wants to beat him, I suggest opening almost any book on mnemonics. Memorization is not the hardest part.

Where can I find time for training?

While preparing for the championship, I also wrote a book, studied English and studied for exams at the university. At the same time, there was no less free time: I still read fiction, met with friends and even played computer games. However, I tried to use my time more rationally: I listened to English podcasts in the metro, repeated the Pi number at breakfast (and in other free minutes), and tried to memorize new locations and places in Moscow while walking with friends. I read books, watched movies and played games only in the original language.

The main question is not time, but motivation - it should be enough to devote at least a few minutes every day to your goals. It is very easy to find a few minutes: in the morning at breakfast, on the subway, in line, waiting for a meeting, even in the toilet. It can take more than an hour a day. An hour a day for a month - already 30 hours! Add to this the ability to make better use of time (like watching movies in English, if your goal is to learn the language), as well as the hours that you devote entirely to achieving the goal.

How to memorize information quickly and for a long time?

To quickly memorize incoherent and illogical information, such as names, numbers, foreign words, it is best to use mnemonics. Mnemonics (or mnemonics) is the use of any associations that allow you to cling information to what is already in your memory. For example, in order to remember that the English "shriek" is translated as "screech", you can come up with some kind of consonant image: for example, screeching Shrek. There are no miracles, but this method will allow you to memorize 60 words per hour.

And here is the word "shriek". Source: thewire.com

When memorizing logical and structured information like concepts, laws, theorems, book plots, the main thing is understanding, identifying cause-and-effect relationships and any other patterns. As a rule, we have to memorize both logical and structured, and incoherent and abstract information within the same disciplines, so effective learning requires both understanding and the use of mnemonics. But no matter how you remember the information, it will still be forgotten.

According to the Ebbinghaus curve, most will be forgotten in the first hours after memorization, while the rate of forgetting will decrease exponentially. Although her curve was based on the memorization of abstract information, these principles are also true for structured information, which, although not so quickly, will still be forgotten. The most rational way to solve the forgetting problem is to use the spaced repetition method. The essence of the method is to repeat the information not every day / week / month, but at increasing intervals. You can organize such a repetition through special programs. For example, through Anki, you can repeat any information by translating it into flashcards, and on LinguaLeo, spaced repetition is used to memorize foreign words.

When is the best time for memory?

According to the laws of retroactive and proactive inhibition, one stored information overlaps another. That is, the brain needs some time after memorization to process the received data. This requires changes in schools and universities. Based on these laws, the best time for memorization - immediately after waking up and immediately before bedtime. The latter is also supported by the fact that the consolidation of short-term memory into long-term memory occurs during sleep.

Also, the memory will work well after playing sports: here is the lack of proactive inhibition, and the consequence of physical activity. As for specific time periods, it cannot be reliably stated that, for example, from 8 to 12, memory works better. In my opinion, it all depends on the individual, his regimen and habits.

The number “pi” does not apply to round fools.
V. Shenderovich, honorary member of the Pi-Club.

A physicist from San Francisco named Larry Shaw noticed that according to the American calendar, the date March 14th coincides with the spelling of the mathematical number Pi (3.14 - month, date, Pi \u003d 3.14). It happened in 1987 and since then, on March 14, mathematicians consider happy pi day.

It is customary to celebrate this unusual holiday in a special way, food and drink are chosen with the name on "pi ..", various cakes and pies are baked with decoration in the form of the letter Pi or gingerbread of a similar shape. Do not forget about mental entertainment, various quizzes are held with names starting with "Pi ..".

Pi is a mathematical constant, and is nothing more than a ratio circumference of a circle to its own diameter. Pi=3.1415926….. has infinite value.

When people became interested in the ratio of the circumference to the diameter (and it was a very long time ago), they decided to consider it equal to three. However, later, with the development of architecture, the need arose for a more accurate measurement, and then the number Pi began to acquire a value that still exists today.

It is noteworthy that at different times there was a clarification pi values, namely - among the Egyptians it was 3.1604, the Indians derived the value 3.162, the Greeks - 3.1428, the Chinese - 3.1459. With the advent of the computer, the meaning was constantly refined, and already in 1994 numbered 4 billion. 44 million signs.

Mathematicians annually try to unravel all the new mysteries associated with this mathematical constant. For this, there was even organized by Pi-Club where information is shared and new information is obtained. To join the club, you must pass a very good oral memorization test. a large number signs of pi.

There are little secrets to make it easier memorizing the signs of pi up to five, nine or more decimal places.

For example, remember a phrase in which each word consists of the number of letters equal to the digits of Pi after the decimal point, namely “I know this and remember it perfectly” (this is 3, I am 1, etc., - 3.14159). Not difficult, right?

Or memorize the verse in which the signs of the number 3.1415926 sound:

You just need to try
And remember everything as it is:

Ninety-two and six.

To memorize thirteen characters after the decimal point of pi you need to memorize the verse more authentically:

So that we don't make mistakes
Must read correctly:
Three, fourteen, fifteen
Ninety-two and six.
Well, then you need to know
If we ask you -
It'll be five, three, five
And eight.

Some mnemonists set records for the number of memorized characters. To date, the record has been set by the Japanese Akira Haraguchi, who knows more than 83 thousand digits of Pi by heart. The Russian record was set by A. Belyaev, a resident of Chelyabinsk, who managed to remember 2.5 thousand characters in a month and a half.

Some hypotheses regarding Pi:

- there is an opinion that among Pi hidden all the information understood or not yet comprehended by mankind;

- It is believed that the Babylonian magicians used Pi during the construction of the Tower of Babel, however, due to the inaccurate value of the number, the tower collapsed over time;

- scientists claim that the number Pi was also used in the construction of the Temple of Solomon.

The greatest supporters of the Pi Club show their affection by writing poems and short stories, as for example Mike Keith in 1996 compiled a story from words that are equal to the first 3834 characters of Pi.

It's interesting that pi holiday noted birthday outstanding physicist A. Einstein, which allows physicists to join the celebration of mathematicians.

Schools, when we begin to study the circle and the circumference. The number π is a mathematical constant expressing the ratio of the circumference of a circle to the length of its diameter. The number does not depend on the diameter of the circle and is constant. Numerically, pi starts as 3.141592... and has an infinite mathematical duration. In everyday calculations, a simplified spelling of the number is used - 3.14.

Pi Day was first celebrated in 1988 at the popular science museum Exploratorium in San Francisco (San Francisco Exploratorium), and this unofficial holiday was invented a year earlier by San Francisco physicist Larry Shaw, who noticed that in the American system of writing dates (month /number) March 14 - 3/14 - coincides with the first digits of the number π.

Experts believe that this number was discovered by the Babylonian magicians. It was used in the construction of the famous Tower of Babel. However, insufficiently accurate calculation of the value of "Pi" led to the collapse of the entire project. Perhaps this mathematical constant underlay the construction of the legendary Temple of King Solomon.

One of the first references to the number Pi can be found in the texts of the Egyptian scribe Ahmes (circa 1650 BC). The ancient Greeks, who borrowed a lot from the Egyptians, contributed to the development of this mysterious quantity. According to legend, Archimedes was so carried away by the calculations that he did not notice how the Roman soldiers took him. hometown Syracuse. When a Roman soldier approached him, Archimedes shouted in Greek, "Don't touch my circles!" In response, the soldier stabbed him with a sword.

Plato received a fairly accurate value of Pi for his time - 3.146. Ludolf van Zeilen spent most of his life calculating the first 36 digits after the decimal point of pi, and they were engraved on his tombstone after his death.

And yet, the date when International Pi Day is celebrated coincides with the birthday of Albert Einstein.

Scientists and lovers of mathematics are very fond of this holiday, celebrating it with a variety of physical, mathematical and culinary events. Cooking here comes in very handy - usually large round cakes are baked, and the whole team sits around a "magic" circle (usually with a drawn "Pi" in the center), helping themselves and talking about the relativity of this unusual number.

So why remember this "Pi"? For students, this is part educational process. For adults - a great opportunity to train your memory and surprise your friends. There are several ways to remember the number "Pi".

The first is rhyme.

In order to remember the number Pi there is such a poem.

So that we don't make mistakes
Must read correctly:
Three, fourteen, fifteen
Ninety-two and six.
Well, then you need to know
If we ask you -
It'll be five, three, five
Eight, nine, eight.

(S. Bobrov "The Magic Bicorn")

The second is convenient structuring.

Let's divide what is written after the decimal point into the following groups: 3, (14 and 15) (926 - megaphone code) (535) (89 and 79) (32 and 38 for a total of seventy) (46 and 26) and so on. You can also select other groups, the main condition is that it should be easier for you to remember them. It is better to immediately stop at one option when structuring, otherwise confusion may arise that will prevent you from remembering the number.

The third way is the length of words in a phrase.

This method is not the most convenient for quickly reproducing the PI number. But it is very effective if you need to remember by any means. The essence of the approach is that each digit of Pi corresponds to the number of letters in each word included in these phrases:

What do I know about circles? (3.1415). So I know the number called Pi - Well done! (3.1415926 - rounded). Learn and know in the number known behind the number the number, how to notice good luck! (3.14159265359). (Ya. I. Perelman)

What methods do you know?

This and other interesting information look on the pages of our PDF-magazine, which you can download or print and read at any convenient time.

From a mathematical point of view, the number pi is the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter, from a philosophical point of view it is the numerical equivalent of infinity, from a calendar point of view it is the "namesake" of March 14 (3.14), and from a practical point of view it is a good material for honing mnemonic techniques.

In honor of international day numbers pi, we decided to recall some of them.

Turn a number into a story

To do this, it is proposed to replace the numbers with words containing the same number of letters. The English phrase “May I have a large container of coffee beans” is built on this principle, helping to remember eight decimal places (3.14159265).

There are also Russian-language versions. For example, pre-revolutionary: “Whoever, jokingly and soon wishes (b) Pi to know the number, already knows (b)” (10 characters - 3.1415926536).

Or a more modern version: "She was and will be respected at work" (3.1415926).

And also poetic: “I know this and remember it perfectly - “Pi” many signs are superfluous to me, in vain” (3.14159265358).

The created "numerical history" can be packaged in any convenient format. For example, the Soviet mathematician Yakov Perelman created a whole mnemonic dialogue:

What do I know about circles? (3.1415).

So I know the number called pi - Well done! (3.1415927).

Learn and know in the number known behind the number the number, how to notice good luck! (3.14159265359).

Replace numbers with letters

An option for those who, for whatever reason, a random set of letters are easier to remember than a random set of numbers.

For this, numbers from 1 to 9 are replaced by the first nine letters of the selected alphabet. For example, this is how the first part of the title "Cadaeic Cadenza" was created - a small work by the American mathematician Mike Keith, in which, in total, 3835 digits of pi are encoded.

In Russian, letters from A to Z, inclusive, can be used for such purposes. But how convenient it will be to remember the combinations made up of them is up to you.

draw an analogy

In fact, phone numbers are the same "illogical" set of numbers as the irrational number pi. But if you wish, you can remember it if you have an appropriate goal in front of you.

Therefore, some mnemonic techniques suggest representing the number pi in the form of a telephone book, turning the numerical sequence into telephone numbers. However, in our time, few people memorize them, so you may have to find a more practical and relevant form.

Structure the data

If you nevertheless decided to learn it for some reason, then it is recommended to split the number into small segments (say, 4 characters each), and memorize it “in portions”. For example, sequentially learn 10 combinations of four numbers. And this is, no less, 39 decimal places.