HEAAADERLOGORIGHT

A SLICE
OF PI
Warm up

Use the picture to define these terms.

1. the distance across a circle

2. the distance from the edge of a circle to the middle point

3. the distance around the circle

4. the value of the Greek letter pi, which can be used to find the size of the circle

Answer the questions:

1. Did you know that we celebrate Pi Day on the 14th of March every year? Why do you think this
date was chosen?
2. Why do you think there is a special day to celebrate pi?

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 Vocabulary

You are going to watch a TED talk called, "The Infinite Life of Pi". Before you watch, match these
words from the video with their meanings.

Group 1

1. calculate a. accurate and exact

2. estimate b. find the size or amount of something, usually using a number, for
example 50 cm or 3 kg

3. figure out c. learn something so well that you can remember it without any
mistakes
4. measure d. make a guess about the size or amount of something

5. memorize e. understand or find a solution to a problem

6. precise f. work with numbers to find a new number or amount, by adding,

subtracting, multiplying or dividing

Group 2

1. density a. a type of something

2. form b. something that exists in a very tiny size

3. orbit c. strong thin rope that we use to tie things

4. particle d. the number of things in a place, compared to the size of the place

5. string e. the path a satellite takes when it travels around a planet

6. wave f. the shape that some types of energy (like sound or light) make

Answer the questions:

1. Which words in Group 1 are near synonyms?

2. What part of speech are most of the words in Group 1? Which one is different?
3. Which part of speech are the words in Group 2?
4. Which of the words in Group 2 is the least scientific?

Watch for main idea

For each of the five topics, choose the best item to complete the sentence, according to the video.
Then watch the video to check.

1. Measuring circles - Something that won’t directly measure the circumference of a circle: measuring
tape / a ruler / string.
2. The history of pi - A group of people who didn’t have some estimated form of pi: the Greeks / the
Mayans / the Chinese.
3. The precise value of pi - For most calculations, scientists use a value of pi that is this many numbers
in length: 40 / 67,000 / a quadrillion.
4. Some scientific uses of pi - We don’t use pi to understand the orbit ofsatellites / medicine / music.
5. Pi in physics - We don’t use pi in this type of research: the density of the universe / how light
works / life on other planets.

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 HEAAADERLOGORIGHT
UPPER-INTERMEDIATE (B2-C1)

A SLICE OF PI

Mathematical vocabulary

Read the examples and answer the questions to define ten mathematical terms. (Note that the
numbers in the video and the exercise are written using the anglophone convention for commas and
full-stops.)

ratio: For every three boys in the class, there were two girls (3:2).

fraction: They ate 2/3 (two thirds) of the pie so there was 1/3 (one third) left.

1. Which term describes how one whole thing is divided?

2. Which term compares two types of thing?

digit: My mobile phone number has eleven digits.

1. Which term refers to any of the numbers from 0 to 9?

2. Which term indicates the part of a number that is smaller than 1?

equation: 3 + 19 = 2 x 11

statistics: 23% of people in this population are taller than 160 cm.

1. Which term describes an area of mathematics where facts are expressed as numbers? _________
2. Which term means a mathematical statement that shows two items are equal?

volume: This bottle can hold 1 litre of water.

20 degrees.

1. Which term describes how much space is inside an object?

2. Which term is a graphic representation of how two sets of information relate to each other, for
example, number of days and temperature?

whole numbers: For example, 10, 34, 98, 876, but not -13, 3/4, 6.73.

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 HEAAADERLOGORIGHT
UPPER-INTERMEDIATE (B2-C1)

A SLICE OF PI

1. Which term refers to basic numbers that we use for counting?

2. Which term refers to a number whose decimal places never end?

Watch for detail

Read these sentences from the video, which include mathematical vocabulary in bold. Decide if the
sentences are true or false. Watch the video to check your ideas.

1. In a circle, the ratio of the circumference divided by the diameter will always be the same number.
2. By the year 1400, the value of pi had been calculated to as far as twelve decimal places.
3. Pi is an irrational number, which means that it can sometimes be expressed as a ratio of two whole
numbers.
4. We can try to express pi as a whole number, but the fraction will never be completely precise
because the digits of pi continue forever.
5. We test the accuracy of new computers by asking them to calculate pi.
6. Some people can remember 6,700 digits of pi.
7. We use pi to calculate the volume of boxes.
8. Pi is also useful for equations that describe the shape of curves, so it can help us understand test
scores.

Answer these questions:

1. Which of the terms in bold do you think will be the most useful for you when you use English?
2. Which will be the least useful?
3. What was the most interesting or surprising thing you saw in the video?

Discuss these questions in pairs or small groups.

1. What sort of people celebrate Pi Day?

2. Can you think of any ways that you use pi or benefit from the use of pi in your daily life?
3. Why do you think some people have memorised pi to 67,000 decimal places? How do you think
they did this? Have you ever memorised something very long?

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