The results of the 2025 Pi Representation competition are in! (View the original competition page, here).
It was a joy to look through the more than 400 entries. Congratulations everyone who took part – there are so many great entries that are going unmentioned on the website.
The entries were judged on a variety of categories; originality and clarity of the idea, technical skill and effort required for the work, and mathematical understanding/accuracy. Some of the top entires didn’t require huge amounts of technical skill or effort, but were wonderfully unique ideas instead. Meanwhile some entries were less original but required a high degree of technical skill or effort. And some were a mix of the two!
It was very, very difficult to choose the top entries in each category. It’s difficult to compare entries using such a variety of different mediums, and there was not much to separate a lot of entries.
But here are the final results, as promised!
Note: Zoe was so impressed that each of the top three (rather than just the winner) in each of the individual categories, will receive the main prize: a signed copy of the popular maths book Humble Pi by Matt Parker
Entries from individuals, Year 8 and under
Top three prize-winning entries
First Place: Bralen Moras of Queen Elizabeth’s School, Barnet
Bralen has written code to simulate two different experiments that estimate π . And whilst we use the interactivity to estimate π to higher or lower degrees of accuracy, we also have the pleasure of listening to Bralen’s own music that reflects the digits of π in its choice of notes! This entry is a comprehensive under-taking, that shows a high level of musical creativity, mathematical understanding, and high levels of technical computing skill.
Second Place: Sal Ashraf of AKS Lytham
Sal has represented some of the digits of π by manipulating an 8 by 8 Rubik’s Cube, and set the images of each into a π video sequence. The idea to use the Rubik’s Cube as a medium was pleasingly neat and original, and the execution of it would have required commitment and a high level of Rubik’s skill.
Third place: Aarav Kumar of Queen Elizabeth’s School, Barnet
Aarav has written a beautiful poem that gives us meaningful insights into π (its uses, nature and history), as well as being very well-written. The poem really celebrates π, and leaves the reader with a greater appreciation of the number. This entry shows a high level of mathematical understanding, high levels of technical (writing) skill and original ideas.
Runners-up
These are listed alphabetically by first name.
Ehan Rattani of Queen Elizabeth’s High School, Barnet
We appreciated the high-level technical computing skill and commitment involved in this piece, as well as the completeness of the project; it was great that the digits of π were represented in so many different ways, eg the colour and size of the circles, and in the notes in the music.
Eashan Sikka of Maple Walk Prep School
There were no other entries using this idea – a simple, but unique and fun idea.
Josh Humphreys of The Richmond upon Thames School
Music audio file and sheet music
We were impressed by the musical creativity in this piece, whilst it clearly reflects the digits of π.
Minnie McPherson of The Richmond upon Thames School
We enjoyed the playfulness and originality of this entry, and appreciated the challenge of writing and singing lyrics to to an existing tune.
Rachel Horton of Rawlins – Church of England School (Part of Embrace Mat Trust)
It was great that this entry represented π in a few different ways, and we appreciated the technical skill and commitment required for the detail.
The entry, as described by Rachel: ‘A cushion with the outline of Pi in the middle embroidered with 131 digits of Pi sewn in with thinner thread over a period of 3.14 weeks. Surrounded by 30 other smaller multi-coloured pi’s. The layers of fabric are joined together to create a cushion cover filled with cotton and stitched together. The borders are stitched together in a way to create a pi border along with the colourful pi’s flying around to have a pisome sleep. ’
Riha Sevani of Ellen Wilkinson School for Girls
We enjoyed the uniqueness and clarity of this entry – no other entries represented/visualised π as the ratio between the diameter and circumference of the circle in quite such an illuminating way.
Ruby Lal of Maple Walk Prep School
A neat idea to make a 3D piece of art (rather than a 2D diagram) that traced the digits of π. Displayed simply and elegantly.
Entries from individuals, Year 9 and above
First place: Wren Willsher of Chelmer Valley High School
Wren has created a fantastic video, all in lego, which informs us about π (and it’s irrational nature), whilst also telling us a funny and original story.
The lego character is on a journey and takes the ‘π route’, advertised as being ‘????’ miles long. The route has the digits of π running along side it, and as the digits never end, the route never ends… leading to problems for the lego character!
This entry is both wonderfully original and required a huge amount of commitment and technical skill. We were really impressed with how detailed the video is – from the dialogue and detailed actions of the characters, to the fitting background music. This entry really is an incredible achievement.
Second place: Sophia Mead of Newstead Wood School
Sophia has created a wonderful video that uses hand-drawn animations that are set to music and gives us various insights into the nature of π. This entry is really beautiful; showing high levels of creativity and huge amounts of technical skill and effort. We were particularly impressed by the timing of the animations so that it fits with the music. The whole effect of the video is delightfully artistic and sophisticated.
Third place: Kaitlin Rose of St John Plessington Catholic College
This is an incredible feat of commitment! Kaitlin has created, by hand, an attractive artwork that represents the first 2,378 (we think!) digits of π. Every square in the artwork represents one of the 2,378 digits, with the colour indicating the value of the digit. The choice of colours works well. What a way to celebrate π Day!
Runners-up
These are listed alphabetically by first name.
Clarence Qin of Abingdon Prep School
Clarence has designed and 3D printed this π model. A stylish design that represents π in two different ways.
Gabby Ogden of Rochdale Sixth Form College
Gabby has written python code (displayed in a presentation) that approximates π and explores different aspects of π. The entry includes a simulation of a ‘random walk’ taken by π (below), which was unique – not included in any other entry. Click the link in the name for the full presentation.
Nicole Shun Hei Chiu of Ellen Wilkinson School for Girls
Nicole has made ‘Pi-Man’, a version of Pac-Man where instead of eating the dots, the characters have to eat the digits of π, in successive order! A funny and original idea. Demo video below, or click the name link to play online!
Pip Sheldon of Rochdale Sixth Form College
Pip has written a fantastic piece of music where the musical theme/instrumentation of each section relates in someway to the successive digits of π. A beautiful, quality composition.
Sonja Chen of King Alfred’s Academy
Sonja has coded a computer game, ‘Pi-land’, featuring a π character who has to collect the digits of π. Sonja has also created the wonderful π-inspired backing track that we listen to as we play! We appreciated how many different aspects of the entry represented π. A fun, comprehensive and skilled entry.
Theodore De Boehmler of SGS Berkeley Green UTC
Theodore has coded on Scratch a striking artwork that represents the first 98,596 digits of π. Every square in the artwork represents one of the 98,596 digits, with the colour indicating the value of the digit. Theodore notes that the Feynman point (six successive 9s) is just visible (as a line of black) just to the left of the middle of the third row (you might need to zoom in!). Theodore has also made another similar art work that colours the squares black or white according to if the corresponding digit is odd or even. A skilled and interesting entry!
Zaynab Choudhury of Bedford Girls’ School
Zaynab has crocheted this adorable ‘Pi-on-a-pie’ plushie, where the item itself represents the value of the number π; the overall plushie is made using exactly 987 stitches (π squared approximates to 9.87), and has a base diameter of 6.28cm (2 lots of π approximates to 6.28). We enjoyed that Zaynab managed to weave references to π into the piece so many times, and the skill and commitment involved in the piece.
Entries from Groups
Zoe has selected 4 favourite entries in this category, whose participants will all receive a π-themed pencil. They are listed below alphabetically by school.
Ivy, Phebe and Millie from Colchester High School
A π play – click the link above to read the script and see its links to π.
In this entry, we really appreciated that the play was meaningful and mathematical, whilst also sticking to the constraints of the number of words per line. It was also wonderfully presented.
John Flamsteed Community School, performed by a group of year 7 students, and assisted by two year 10 students
This video was a really neat idea, and we really appreciated the commitment to make the video as long as it is!
Year 12 Further Maths class at King Edwards VI Aston School
We really appreciated the humour in this video, and the huge number of mathematical references and puns that the students managed to weave into it.
Ruby and Anna of St Mary’s Catholic School
In this entry Ruby and Anna make the digits of π with their bodies – a fun and original idea. The video is well put together – we really enjoyed that it also tells a story and was made to look like a film trailer, as well as having accurate mathematical references about the nature of π.