Pi Day Math for Cooks


First of all – Happy Pi Day!
If you are a math nerd, this is a fun day!
March 14 or 3.14…and I did not just admit to being a nerd?!?

What is pi?
It is the ratio of the circle’s circumference to its diameter.

So here, my lovely Le Creuset Enameled Cast-Iron Tarte Tatin pan has a diameter of 9 1/2 inches. What is the circumference you ask?
That is where my handy little mysterious irrational number comes in! The circumference is the diameter (as measured by my whimsical tape measure) multiplied by pi.
The circumference of my Le Creuset pan:
pi d = C
3.141592653589793238462643383279502884+ X 9.5 = 29.845130209+
About 30″ around.
OK, I am off to bake a 30″ circumference apple tarte tatin!
Did you enjoy some pie on Pi Day?

(Portions of this post were written for Pi Day 2008, as some things never change, and pi is one of them).

12 thoughts on “Pi Day Math for Cooks”

  1. I love the tape measure too! Reminds me of March “in like a lion, out like a lamb.” How fitting on Pi day!

    Honestly, though, I think more recipes should specify baking dishes by their circumference. It makes much more sense, don’t you think?

  2. I made a sweet potato pie based on Alton Brown’s recipe in Good Eats. I had never made or eaten one before. It’s frigging awesome, it’s like pumpkin pie but without feeling like you eat a jack’o’lantern.

  3. I completely jumped over Pi Day, right into the Ides of March. Now I have to remember to wear green on Tuesday. I wouldn’t want to get pinched!

  4. Hi Lori,

    Excellent post, love the measuring tape! My Pi day pie was a rainbow chard and pancetta quiche confection, and I made it in my beloved Emile Henry pie dish!
    Your cast iron Le Creuset tatin pan looks awesome, and at least these ones are made in France (the ceramic le creuset are all made in Thailand, more exotic than authentic 😉

    Chiara

  5. Adorable! I once collected measuring tapes. You would be surprised how many people do:)

    I agree, baking dishes should be by measurement especially now that we all know what Pi is:)

  6. Hi EVERYONE!

    Isn’t Pi Day a hoot! Can’t wait ’til next year. How’s your memorization of pi going? At least you have it down to
    3.1415926, picture it as eating pie for dessert after lunch 34 seconds before 2 o’clock on March 14. Easy. 3.14 at 1:59:26. Now you can impress your kids!
    Lori Lynn

    The tape measure is cute, but was a gift, so I don’t know where to tell you to get one 🙁

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