--- title: "It’s Pi Day – and there’s some good news for math teachers" description: "March 14 is that special time of year people pay homage to the mathematical constant pi (π). A majority of U.S. adults enjoyed math classes in grades K-12, and most who liked them say the subject matter was the main reason." date: "2018-03-14" authors: - name: "Mark Strauss" job_title: "Former Writer/Editor" link: "https://www.pewresearch.org/staff/mark-strauss/" url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2018/03/14/its-pi-day-and-theres-some-good-news-for-math-teachers/" categories: - "K-12" - "STEM Education & Workforce" --- # It’s Pi Day – and there’s some good news for math teachers [![Support for increasing sanctions strongest in U.S. and Japan](https://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2018/06/FT_18.06.06_NorthKorea_sanctions.png?w=221)](https://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2018/06/FT_18.06.06_NorthKorea_sanctions.png) [![Nalani Reid ponders a math word problem on the first day of fourth grade in September 2016 at David A. Ellis Elementary School in Boston. Classmate Alanis Vega sits at right. (Pat Greenhouse/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)](https://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/FT_18.03.08_PiDay_feature.jpg)](https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2018/03/14/its-pi-day-and-theres-some-good-news-for-math-teachers/first-day-of-school-in-boston/) *Nalani Reid ponders a math word problem on the first day of fourth grade in September 2016 at David A. Ellis Elementary School in Boston. Classmate Alanis Vega sits at right. (Pat Greenhouse/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)* March 14 is that special time of year people pay homage to the mathematical constant [pi](http://www.piday.org/learn-about-pi/) (π). And a finding from a [Pew Research Center survey](https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2018/01/09/many-americans-say-they-liked-math-and-science-in-school-thought-about-a-stem-career/) should bring good cheer to educators nationwide: Most Americans (58%) say they actually *liked* studying math in grades K-12. The fascination about pi – the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter – is that it is an infinitely long number beginning with 3.14. Several days celebrating math are spread across the calendar. (It’s never too early to prepare for the next [Pythagorean Triple Day](https://www.wpi.edu/news/euler-s-number-way-celebrate-our-nerdy-side), on 12/16/20.) But Pi Day in particular has grown into a popular cultural phenomenon since it was [first introduced in 1988](https://www.cnn.com/2014/03/14/tech/innovation/pi-day-math-celebrations/). The U.S. House of Representatives even [passed a nonbinding resolution](https://www.congress.gov/bill/111th-congress/house-resolution/224/text) in 2009 commemorating the day, while also encouraging “schools and educators to observe the day with appropriate activities that teach students about pi and engage them about the study of mathematics.” ![](https://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2018/01/08115821/PS_2018.01.09_STEM_6-02.png) “America needs to reinforce mathematics and science education for all students in order to better prepare our children for the future and in order to compete in a 21st century economy,” said the resolution, adding that mathematics “can be a fun and interesting part of a child’s education.” Out of the 58% of U.S. adults who enjoyed math classes in grades K-12, most point to the subject matter as the main reason they liked math classes, rather than the way math classes were taught. About six-in-ten (61%) say they liked K-12 math classes because of the subject matter. A similar share (59%) say they disliked math classes because of the subject matter. About half or more of respondents in each of the age groups included in the survey say they liked K-12 math classes. For instance, 58% of Americans ages 18-29 and 64% of those 65 and older had positive memories of math. The survey also revealed that men (62%) are more likely than women (53%) to have positive memories of math classes. While a majority of Americans liked their math classes, even more (75%) have fond memories of their science classes in grades K-12. Among this group, a majority points to the subject matter as the main reason they enjoyed science classes (68%), while roughly three-in-ten (31%) say the main reason they liked them was the way they were taught. Nearly half (46%) of Americans say they liked both science and math classes in grades K-12. About one-in-ten (11%) say they liked math but not science, while a larger share (29%) disliked math but liked science. Some 14% say they disliked both math and science classes. ![](https://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2018/01/08115826/PS_2018.01.09_STEM_6-04.png) As one might expect, working in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) – or earning a postgraduate degree in a STEM field – is closely related to liking science and math classes in grades K-12. But many of those who work in other occupations or have a degree in a different field liked one or both of these subjects as well.