Math Jokes at The Pi Mile Race

In belated honor of Pi Day, my husband and I ran the 39th Annual Pi Mile Race at Georgia Tech last Saturday.  Weeks before the race we talked of training and friendly competition but somehow never managed to get out for a single practice run.  The day before the race, there was a tornado alert in Atlanta and the city shut down in fear.  Although we were secretly hoping the race would be cancelled, no one who admit it.  On Saturday morning we woke up to bright and sunny skies and reluctantly headed to campus.  

We casually ran side by side and inevitably the pi jokes ensued: 

Why have you half-way finished the pi mile race when you only ran π/3?
cos(π/3)=1/2

Why did the sign read 1/2 way point after running only π/6?
'cause sin(π/6)=1/2

We made a full circle and finished the pi race where we started.

We had a splendid time at the Pi Race.  It turned out to be a fantastic and entertaining way to start a productive day!  I hope this gets us pumped for the Peachtree Road Race on July 4th.  Can you think of a joke involving trig functions and periodicity?

Pi Day 2011

Guess what next Monday, 3/14 is?  Pi Day! 

March 14th is the official day that this irrational number representing the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter is celebrated around the world.  Traditional celebrations include eating pie and contests as to who can recite the most digits of pi.  In 2009, National Pi Day was recognized by Congress and today, it continues to be celebrated in Math classrooms and by Math enthusiasts around the nation. 

How will you celebrate?  I'm planning to run the Pi Mile foot race hosted by Georgia Tech.  For more celebration ideas and events, please visit Pi Across America.  Don't forget to have your pi and eat it too!