Infinite and Completely Irrational

Something infinite and completely irrational. Pi.

The small Greek letter Pi is used to represent the mathematical constant, ever changing, derived from geometry of the circumference of a circle divided by its diameter. This ratio for any circle will always equal: 3.141592653589....and goes on forever without repeating. No pattern, just randomness as you divide it out. Supercomputers are still churning it out and have it figured out to millions of digits.
My kids have memorized it out as far as they can and go around chanting the number sing-song throughout the day. Beats gum-chewing.

This is my contribution to the Baren Forum exchange # 43. I was pulled in from the waiting list. While not strictly on topic--the theme was "typography"--it does include large hand-drawn/carved numbers and the Greek letter Pi prominently displayed and hand printed.

Then there's also the formula for calculating the area of a circle...in case you forgot.

I had wanted the numbers to be visible through the ink of the "Pi" and should have printed the numbers block a bit darker or last so it would have at least embossed the damp paper. Lots of overprinting to the "Pi" as it either was too pale and lacked oomph or subject power but as it gained it by going darker I lost the effect of the numbers marching through it. At least 4 impressions and it still isn't uniform or rich enough. But the biggest defect in my mind is that I wish I'd partially drawn in the next number in the sequence so that the illusion of it continuing off page was emphasized. I'd already printed some when I figured it out and it was too late to go back.

Pi = 3.1415.....∞
Woodblock print-moku hanga (water-based) 7.25" X 11"
Baren Exchange 43: Edition of 32; 10 various-colored Artist proofs (too many but I couldn't decide).
4 blocks; 5 colors; 8 impressions.

Math lesson

Not sure why it grabbed their attention, but both my boys have become enamored with the number Pi where Pi = 3.141592653589793238......They're each working on memorizing it out as far as they can. I think Alex is up to thirty digits; Sami is at about 12 or so. They go about the house singing or chanting in turn sottovoce 3.14159265.....
For those who have forgotten, the small Greek letter π Pi is used to represent the irrational number mentioned above that is the ratio, derived from geometry, of a circle's circumference divided by its diameter. For any perfect circle, therefore, the ratio of the circumference divided by the diameter will always equal Pi. What is fascinating about this is that it is a number that goes on infinitely without repeating. (unlike 1/3 which remains .33333....forever, Pi has a nearly random sequence where all the digits are equally represented.) The solving of Pi into the millions of digits had to await the arrival of supercomputers but the problem of pi, of squaring a circle and many other mathematical proofs occupied thinkers and mathematicians from the time of the ancient civilizations until only very recently.
Not sure either why this particular diversion of theirs has also piqued my interest.
I can't memorize a new phone number anymore so pi beyond 3.14 is all I can manage but I can carve still a bit better than that so we'll count it out to at least 19 digits.
Here's the cherry block. The remains of my hanshita (paper guide) are still glued on waiting to be washed off but this will be the first of probably three blocks of my next print. I'm working a bit more loosely, this time in that I think I'll work with just 2-3 blocks and see what I can derive from them.
For those attentive readers who recall my "red shed" post, the rains have driven me from my poorly insulated and very damp workshed/studio to the kitchen table. Hope things dry out a bit so I can do some test printing.