Piphilology - Examples in English

Examples in English

The most common mnemonic technique is to memorize a so-called "piem" (a wordplay on "pi" and "poem") in which the number of letters in each word is equal to the corresponding digit of π. This famous example has several variations, including:

How I wish a drink, alcoholic of course, after the heavy lectures involving quantum mechanics!

How I need a drink, alcoholic in nature, after the tough chapters involving quantum mechanics! (older)

Short mnemonics such as these, of course, do not take one very far down π's infinite road. Instead, they are intended more as amusing doggerel. If even less accuracy suffices, the following examples can be used:

How I wish I could recollect pi easily today!

Can I have a large container of coffee? Thank you.

This second one gives the value of π as 3.141592653, while the first only brings it to the second five. Indeed, many published poems use truncation instead of one of the several roundings, thereby producing a less-accurate result when the first omitted digit is greater than or equal to five. It is advantageous to use truncation in memorizing if the individual intends to study more places later on, otherwise one will be remembering erroneous digits.

Another mnemonic is:

The point I said a blind Bulgarian in France would know

In this mnemonic the word "point" represents the decimal point itself.

Yet another example is:

How I wish I could recollect, of circle round, the exact relation Arkimedes learned

In this example, the spelling of Archimedes is altered so that it represents nine.

Longer mnemonics employ the same concept. This example created by Peter M. Brigham incorporates twenty decimal digits:

How I wish I could enumerate pi easily, since all these bullshit mnemonics prevent recalling any of pi's sequence more simply.

In the children's book, 'Somewhen' (David Saul and Danielle Mathieson, ISBN 9780473218584) a poem is presented as a riddle. Here, the words describe the ratio and as laid out, the riddle forms a circle. To side-step the zero at decimal position 32, the word 'nothing' is used.

It's a fact

A ratio immutable

Of circle round and width

Produces geometry's deepest conundrum

For as the numerals stay random

No repeat lets out its presence

Yet it forever stretches forth

Nothing to eternity.