Mathematics was used to capture the illegal fishermen

BENIEL SEKA

“I used mathematics to capture the illegal fishermen in the Indian Ocean,” said the former Minister for Livestock Development and Fisheries who is now the Minister for Works, Dr John Pombe Maghufuli (MP) when delivering a speech during the 6^th Pi-Day celebration in 2009.  Surveys show that East African countries including Tanzania, suffer an annual loss of several million USD through illegal fishing. After his delighting speech, as he was leaving the venue, a number of journalists surrounded him asking him how he did it. He did not disclose the secret because the case was still in court and might interfere with the investigations being carried out.

The Pi Day event in 2009 took place at the Tanzania Institute of Education (TIE) on an open ground near the parking area. Pi-Day is celebrated on 14^th March in many countries of the world. This year’s (2013) celebration has been scheduled to take place at Mnazi Mmoja in the city of Dar es Salaam. The guest of honour is expected to be the Coordinator of Education in the Prime Minister’s Office for Regional Administration and Local Government (TAMISEMI), Mr Bernard Bakari. The celebration will start with a charity walk from Azania Secondary School and will pass through Morogoro Road and enter Lumumba Street Road to the chosen site at Mnazi Mmoja.

PI-Day is a day used to celebrate the mathematical constant pi pronounced as “Pai” to bring mathematicians and their supporters to deliberate on mathematics. Pi, represented by the Greek letter (symbol) π, is approximately equal to 3.14 when taken to two decimal places. The 3 at the left hand side is used to represent the 3^rd calendar month (March) and the number 14 represents the 14^th day of the month. Thus Pi-Day is on the 14^th of March. Thanks to the pioneer of the day, a mathematics teacher from San Fransisco, USA who suggested it in 1988. In Tanzania, the first celebration was held in Tanzania in 2004 when the curriculum Developer for Mathematics introduced at TIE.

A World Federation of Pi has been formed and mathematicians all over the world have acquired a platform for expressing their ideas directly through internet and what have you. Among the activities performed on PI-Day are: singing pi songs, discussing the application of mathematics in daily life and observing mathematics exhibitions which portray mathematics uses. At the climax of the celebration, all participants in the event sing the birthday song: HAPPY PIDAY TO YOU X 2. HAPPY PIDAY EVERYBODY. HAPPY PIDAY TO YOU.

Since 2004, the celebration has been gaining ground in terms of participation and awareness. The inclusion of pre-Pi Day activities, charity walk and exhibitions has made it even more popular. The Mathematical Association of Tanzania MAT/CHAHITA) which took over the organization of the event in 2007 has been appealing to supporters of mathematics education to help in funding the great event.

Why do we celebrate Pi? This is the question many people ask when they learn that there is Pi Day.  We do it because pi has a lot of applications, have a simple definition and can create fun. For any circle, the principle is without exception. It is universal, that is, it I the same whether it be applied to a small ring, to circular tins or bicycle wheels.  Application of pi has spread all over the world and even the universe where circles are involved.

Word wide, we hear of celebrations conducted at the San Francisco Explotorium where Pi Day was created by the phycist Larry Shaw in 1988. Like in Tanzania, many groups have announced their plans to mark the day. For example, the Ford Fussion, a car company, intends to celebrate the 2013 Pi Day. The firm will celebrate by letting its marketing team ‘write’ their hearts out about how much mathematics has influenced the all-new Fusion, making the car more fuel efficient and more technically filled.  The Ford Motor Company product development engineer, Gil Portalatin has this to say: “By celebrating Pi Day, we hope to get people to appreciate the impact that mathematics has in helping them to get from home to the grocery store.”