Yes, pi, an important concept to mathematicians, is also a great number for engineers. Engineers don’t get all emotional, or verklempt, or sensitive about pi, like mathematicians do. Mathematicians can be so emotional – at least when compared to engineers. Mathematicians even celebrate pi day, March 14, or 3.14, as a tribute to pi, and as an excuse to eat pie. Trust me. I know this for a fact. I have a brother who, along with his wife, are both math professors and they have a pi day party every year.

But, whereas mathematicians get so very emotional about this concept pi, engineers simply use the number. It shows up in many places – tucked into equations, sprouting out of various engineering applications, and materializing in all sorts of engineering phenomenon. Mathematicians can talk about the theory of pi, like, “Is there an end to it?” But engineers simply use the number for improving our way of life.

Let the math nerds have their pie. Engineers, the cool ones, will continue to use pi and numbers like it to serve society in their everyday lives, superheroes in disguise.