Gabby Pielka is the winner of this year’s Pi Day Contest, memorizing 710 digits and setting a new school record.
Photo Credit: Immaculate Heart Academy

By Heather Farrell
OPINIONS EDITOR

Every year Pi Day is celebrated on March 14th and the IHA Math Department holds a contest to see which student can memorize and recite the most digits of the irrational number.The contest concluded on Monday March 24 with senior Gabby Pielka named the winner.

Pi, the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter, is an irrational number meaning it continues infinitely without repetition or following a pattern. It can be approximated to 3.14, which is why it is celebrated on March 14.

This year was extra special because at 9:26 and 53 seconds, the date would coincide with the first ten digits of Pi, 3.141592653.

Two students entered the contest: freshman Catherine Petretti and senior Gabby Pielka.

Freshman Catherine Petretti is IHA’s runner-up in this year’s Pi Day contest.
Photo Credit: Immaculate Heart Academy

Petretti recited 345 places of Pi. “I think I did very well in the Pi competition. I was really nervous, but Mr. Millard said I did well. I’m very proud of myself,” Petretti said after partaking in the contest.

Pielka set a new IHA record with 710 digits!

Chao Lu of China currently holds the most digits of Pi memorized: 67,890. In 2013, Numberoworld.org reported that computers can calculate Pi to 12 trillion places.

IHA is proud of the participants in this year’s contest and the school community looks forward to setting a new record next year!