Technolandy

Day 1 (of Spring Break 2025/26): 3/14 – A case for why History of Math 11 should be the default graduation math credit in BC

A lot of people enjoy the fun of Pi Day. March 14.

3.14.

It’s our annual reminder of π, the number that never ends and never quite repeats.

Most of us remember π from the classic formula for the area of a circle. You know the one: πr². (Also, conveniently, the name of the pizza place at University of British Columbia when I was a student.)

But what we rarely spend time on in school is the story of π.

Who discovered it?

Why does it show up everywhere?

How did ancient civilizations approximate it thousands of years before calculators?

Those are the kinds of delightful rabbit holes that students explore in History of Math 11, a course that BC universities now recognize for Arts and Humanities pathways. Of course, the more procedural math courses still matter for students heading into science, engineering, or business.

But for students who love the ideas behind mathematics, History of Math opens a different door. It treats math less like a worksheet and more like an unfolding human story.

In our asynchronous provincial online school, Pi Day becomes a great project-based learning launch point. Students can explore questions like:

What happens to mathematics when AI systems start proving theorems or discovering patterns faster than humans?

Articles like this one from New Scientist suggest mathematics may be entering one of the biggest shifts in its history.

Which makes Pi Day feel less like a quirky calendar joke and more like an invitation to wonder.

So yes, enjoy a slice of pie today.

But maybe take a moment to think a few mathy thoughts too.