US Bunker Buster's "Weak Spot" Revealed? China Finds Attack Tactic to ‘Stop' Bomb That Hit Iran
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Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Pi Approximation Day 2025: What is it and why is it celebrated?
Image credits: X Pi Approximation Day, also known as Casual Pi Day, is celebrated annually on July 22nd. The day recognises and appreciates the mathematical consonant of pi (π), which is known in various aspects of maths and science. What is Pi Approximation Day? Image credits: Getty Images Pi is a special unit in mathematics. Presenting the relationship between a circle's circumference and diameter, the ratio of the two is stated as a constant pi. The symbol of π was first introduced in 1706 by William Jones, a British mathematician. However, it became famous and came to be widely used due to Leonhard Euler, a Swiss mathematician who helped popularise it in his work. Why is Pi Approximation Day celebrated? Pi Approximation Day is celebrated on July 22nd every year, as this date is special. When you divide 22 by 7, you get 3.142857, a number that is very close to the actual value of pi, which is about 3.14159. Since 22/7 is a convenient and easy way to remember the value of pi, the day serves as a reminder of its value. This is why it is also called Casual Pi Day, a more relaxed way of celebrating the symbol without delving into the complex digits. Pi Day, is usually celebrated on March 14th, as 3/14 is a more popular meaning of the mathematical consonant. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like This Could Be the Best Time to Trade Gold in 5 Years IC Markets Learn More Undo What is the significance of Pi (π)? Image credits: Getty Images The symbol of pi has existed for almost 4000 years. In ancient Babylon, people calculated the area of a circle by taking 3 times the square of its radius, making pi's value 3. A Babylonian tablet indicated the value of pi as 3.125, which is a close approximation. As per the Rhind Papyrus, ancient Egyptians calculated the area of a circle by a formula that gave the value of pi as 3.1605. However, the first calculation of pi was completed by Archimedes of Syracuse, who is known as one of the greatest mathematicians of the ancient world. He made use of Pythagoras' Theorem to find the areas of two regular polygons and reached a value approximation between 3 1/7 and 3 10/71. After being introduced by Jones in 1706, mathematicians began using the symbol π for pi. While for some, π has created a lot of difficulties in mathematical calculations, those who love the art of maths love the symbol. In both cases, it remains a vital and memorable symbol in the world of mathematics and the life of every student.
News18
16 hours ago
- News18
Drips To ‘Stay Focused' & More: All About Gao Kao, World's Toughest Exam — 10x Harder Than...
Gao Kao (National College Entrance Examination) is compulsory for any final-year high school student aiming to get into a Chinese university. Every June, life in China nearly comes to a standstill as millions of students appear for the Gao Kao, the national college entrance exam. Known to be one of the toughest exams in the world, it can shape a student's entire future. This year, over 13.35 million students appeared for Gao Kao, China's national college entrance exam, slightly fewer than the 13.42 million who took it last year. The scale of Gao Kao is staggering. By comparison, in India last year, around 16.9 lakh students appeared for the CBSE Class 12 exams, and approximately 12.58 lakh took the JEE Mains. This means the number of Gao Kao candidates is nearly ten times higher than those sitting for India's most competitive exams. What Is Gao Kao? The Gao Kao is China's national-level entrance test for college admissions. It is compulsory for any final-year high school student aiming to get into a Chinese university. Students have to list their preferred colleges before the exam. If they do not meet a college's required score, they are automatically considered for the next one on their list. There is no age limit or restriction on how many times one can attempt the exam. The test is spread over two to three days and lasts about nine hours in total. If a student doesn't qualify for any of the universities they listed, they must appear for the exam again in the following academic year. What Does The Exam Include? The paper's structure can differ across provinces, but usually it includes Chinese literature, Mathematics and a foreign language (mostly English). Students from science backgrounds take additional papers in Physics, Chemistry and Biology, while arts students write tests in History, Politics and Geography. Some candidates even opt for other foreign languages like French, German, Japanese, Russian or Spanish. The test combines multiple-choice and essay-style questions. The scores are combined into one final total. This score determines the student's eligibility for various universities. How Far Students Go To Prepare For Gao Kao The pressure surrounding Gao Kao is so intense that students are willing to go to extreme lengths to stay prepared. A recent Instagram video shows how some students are seen spending their entire days and nights inside classrooms. Meals are passed through school gates as they rarely leave the premises. In many schools, 12-hour study sessions are routine. They just get one day off a week, yet some students use that time to study even more. Some even take IV drips to stay alert, while female students take medication to delay their periods until the exam gets over. These intense scenes show how serious the exam is and how much students are willing to sacrifice for it. Some cities impose special traffic rules and halt construction near test sites to maintain silence. Students are offered free metro rides and taxi services to reach centres on time. At some centres, AI-powered cameras are installed to catch anything unusual and prevent cheating. Drones and other surveillance tools are also used. Criticism While Gao Kao is seen as a fair way to select students for university, it has also faced criticism. Many students deal with high levels of stress, anxiety and pressure while preparing for the exam. In many families, the exam decides not just a student's education but also their career and social status. Students from lower-income backgrounds often struggle more as they may not afford private coaching or extra classes. Some experts also say the exam focuses more on memorising information rather than overall learning or practical skills. One case that recently caught attention was that of Xiaokai, a student from Hunan province who scored 575 out of 750 in the exam. While this is a good score, his parents were unhappy because it may not qualify him for entry into one of China's prestigious '985" universities, a network of 39 elite institutions known for their academic excellence and competitive admissions. They cut off his financial support and locked him out of the house. Xiaokai later approached local media for help. He is now waiting for his final admission results. About the Author Buzz Staff A team of writers at bring you stories on what's creating the buzz on the Internet while exploring science, cricket, tech, gender, Bollywood, and culture. News18's viral page features trending stories, videos, and memes, covering quirky incidents, social media buzz from india and around the world, Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! tags : China education viral news view comments Location : Delhi, India, India First Published: July 22, 2025, 10:00 IST News viral Drips To 'Stay Focused' & More: All About Gao Kao, World's Toughest Exam — 10x Harder Than... Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
News18
a day ago
- News18
US Bunker Buster's "Weak Spot" Revealed? China Finds Attack Tactic to ‘Stop' Bomb That Hit Iran
China claims to have found a "weak spot" in the U.S. GBU-57 bunker-buster bomb used in strikes on Iran, revealing that its heavily armored nose contrasts with much thinner, vulnerable side armor. Chinese military researchers suggest that anti-aircraft guns like the Swiss Oerlikon GDF—used by Iran—could potentially intercept the bomb mid-flight if fired from less than 1.2 km away and at angles below 68°, giving a 42% chance of destruction. 00:00 INTRODUCTIONHOW CHINA SIMULATES 'INTERCEPTION' OF GBU-57US TO 'IMPROVE' BUNKER BUSTERS AFTER IRAN STRIKES? n18oc_crux
