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Coffee Break

Coffee Break: Math!

Pi Day is an annual celebration of the mathematical constant p (pi) in the US.
Pi Day is an annual celebration of the mathematical constant p (pi) in the US.Paul Almasy/Getty Images, via NPR

by Anna Reed

March 14, 2017

It's March 14, so you know what that means. Happy Pi Day!

Pi is the numerical value of the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter (approximately 3.14159). About 30 years ago on this day, physicist Larry Shaw organized the first big Pi Day celebration at a science museum in San Francisco. In 2009, the U.S. House of Representatives officially named March 14 as "National Pi Day", wanting to implore schools to "observe the day with appropriate activities that teach students about Pi and engage them about the study of mathematics."

Another fun fact about March 14? It's Albert Einstein's birthday! Which is just fitting, isn't it?

For today's 9:30 Coffee Break, what songs do you want to hear that use or mention math?

Submit your own idea for a Coffee Break and browse past Coffee Breaks in our archive.

Songs played

Death Cab for Cutie - Long Division
Regina Spektor - The Calculation
Billy Preston - Nothing from Nothing
Jamie Lidell - Multiply
Sun Kil Moon - Neverending Math Equation
Haircut One Hundred - Love Plus One
The White Stripes - Black Math
Cornelius - Count Five Or Six