Tag Archives: Pi

DMS Celebrates ‘Pi Day’ with Amazing Feats of Math Memory… and 4 Pies to the Face

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pi_dayThe answer to, “May I have some pie, please?” took different forms Monday at a noontime rally at Denair Middle School.

For custodian and math whiz Charlie Asbill – and some impressive Denair students – the appropriate response was to recite dozens or even hundreds of the numbers in the sequence of Pi. That begins with 3.14 – making March 14 officially “Pi Day” around the world each year.

For Principal Travis Manley and teachers Linda Richardson, David Rodriguez and Jasmin Perez, the question led to a comical conclusion in front of 270 students and many staff. Cream pies to their faces delivered by pupils were their reward for being good sports.

For the uninitiated, Pi Day commemorates the most recognizable mathematical constant in the world. Pi (π) is the ratio of any circle’s circumference to its diameter. Its value is approximately equal to 3.14159265. It is special because its decimal representation never ends or repeats.

Middle school math teacher Roseanne Cantwell was the impetus behind Monday’s rally. Her leadership group – wearing Pi T-shirts – opened with a modified version of the rock ’n roll classic “American Pie.” Then, one by one, six students took the stage to recite as many numbers in the Pi sequence as they could.

Sixth-grader Allie Williams was first and she quickly got the attention of a hushed audience. With peers in the first row keeping track of her accuracy, she ripped off nearly 200 numbers before pausing. Just when everyone thought she might stop, she began where she left off. Ten minutes later, after a few more starts and stops, she was done, having recited 447 decimal places of Pi.

Sixth-grader Trevor Silva (239 numbers), eighth-grader Logan Pierce (109), seventh-grader Leslie Tadao (101), seventh-grader Allison Neal (82) and sixth-grader McKenna Galvan (33) also took their turns, each earning loud applause from the crowd, which included Channel 3 television crew from Sacramento as well as local news reporters. Continue reading “DMS Celebrates ‘Pi Day’ with Amazing Feats of Math Memory… and 4 Pies to the Face” »

Custodian Aims to Recite First 800 Numbers of Pi on 3.14.16

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Charlie Asbill

Submitted by Denair Unified School District

WHAT: A special Pi Day rally on 3.14.16 in recognition of the most recognizable mathematical constant in the world. Pi (π) is the ratio of any circle’s circumference to its diameter. Its value is approximately equal to 3.14159265. It is special because its decimal representation never ends or repeats.

WHO: Charlie Asbill, a custodian at Denair Middle School with a unique gift for memorization and a lifelong fascination with numbers. Two years ago, with only a short amount of practice, he was able to accurately recite the first 400 numbers of Pi. This year, he intends to at least double that in front of the entire student body. A large-screen projection of the numbers will be displayed behind Charlie so the audience can follow along. Students will participate. And there will be pie for all.

WHERE: Coyote Center at Denair Middle School. 3701 Lester Road, Denair.

WHEN: On March 14 (of course), from noon to 12:36 p.m.

BACKGROUND: Charlie Asbill, 61, has worked as a custodian in the Denair Unified School District since 2006. He grew up in Modesto and graduated from Downey High School, where he figured out his own way to solve algebraic equations. Charlie never attended college. He worked in his family’s furniture store before becoming a custodian and maintenance supervisor.

How did you get started with Pi Day? Inga Bernard was the math teacher at the middle school in 2013-14. She said they were doing something in her class to celebrate Pi Day. I told her that I’m pretty good with numbers. She said, ‘Why don’t you give it a try?’ So I got a sheet of numbers. I did 390 numbers (10 lines) in her class.

How long have you been practicing this year? Six weeks about 30 minutes a day, but not every day. I might go through the numbers once. If you fight yourself, you’re lost. … I usually practice in the morning when I grind my own coffee. … I don’t write things down. I have to look at the numbers and learn them in groups of four. Continue reading “Custodian Aims to Recite First 800 Numbers of Pi on 3.14.16” »