Teacher Baffled With Circumference

submitted by Sang on 07.28.2005

Have you ever caught yourself wondering when you would use a mathematics concept in the real-world? Have you ever asked a teacher that question? Have you ever gotten in trouble as a result? Was the teacher able to think of an application?

Well, teachers are supposed to know what any concept is used for, right? Or at least they should be able to think of one on-the-spot. That’s why they get paid the big bucks. Well, I was snooping around for an explanation to what a period is and how to calculate one when I found a teacher asking Dr. Math this question:

My name is Ian and I’m a teacher from High Wycombe Primary School W.A. We have just covered circumference of circles and pi. The children asked how this concept is used in real life, i.e. engineering, etc., and I had a devil of a time thinking of one. Also what / who is pi named after? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks “Pestered”

I don’t know about you, but I laughed when I read this question.