Why Pi Day 2016 Is Special

From piday.org

Learn about Pi

CAT Tracks Editor's Note:

Don't get the joke?

Then seek out a math person, on this, one of their special days!

Better yet, take them to lunch and spring for dessert...

...pie, not cake!

Okay, okay, math people (speaking of myself) don't tend to be the warm, fuzzy, sociable sort...

...so I'll 'splain it:

• The first symbol is "the square root of negative one", the basic unit of "imaginary numbers" (yes, imaginary numbers are real!) Anyway, for the purposes of the joke, the letter "i" is used to represent that square root. Hey, math people are into using letters for numbers. Tired of X, Y, and Z? How 'bout "I"?

• The next symbol is "the number two cubed" - as in 2 times 2 times 2 - which if you do the math: 2x2=4 and then 4x2=8, or for the purposes of the joke: "ate".

• The next symbol - "Σ" - is the Sigma sign, which in mathematics is used to indicate the summation of related numbers, or sum, or for the purposes of the joke: "some".

• Finally, the sixteenth letter of the Greek alphabet - "π" - well, you remember, it's Pi, or for the purposes of the joke: "pie".

Need I say more?

If so, then you really, really need to seek out that math person...

...and be sure to go bearing gifts...

...of the edible variety!