Every year on September 1st, first-graders head off to school. Once upon a time, Vasily was a first-grader too. His mother brought him to school. He was dressed in a smart school uniform, and in his hands he held a bouquet that the boy gave to his first teacher.
But the excitement of the September 1st celebration soon turned into a dislike for school. Vasily didn't enjoy studying. Mathematics was particularly difficult for him.
Study mathematics, son — it's a very important science.
His mother would tell him.
It's not important at all. Why do I need it?
Vasily would say.
Mathematics is all around us. Imagine you go to a store and want to buy a chocolate bar. You need to pay money. How will you count it without mathematics?
I'll give the money to the shopkeeper, and he'll count it himself.
The shopkeeper might cheat you and take more than necessary.
Why would he do that?
To keep the money for himself instead of putting it in the till. And when you grow up, you might want to become an accountant, an engineer, or a programmer. You can't do any of those jobs without mathematics.
Vasily thought about what he wanted to be in the future. But while he was in primary school, he still couldn't decide.
In grade 7, Vasily's school introduced a new subject — technical drawing. The boy fell in love with it immediately. He enjoyed making drawings so much. He drew everything he saw. That's when he realized he wanted to become an engineer.
But he still couldn't get along with mathematics. When the class was learning about the number Pi during a lesson, Vasily was busy with his drawings. The teacher scolded him for it.
The number Pi is an important constant. Every person must know it.
The mathematics teacher would scold.
I personally don't need this value at all. I'm going to be an engineer, and the main thing there is to be able to draw, and I'm very good at that.
Vasily declared.
In the evening, the boy sat down to do his homework when something incredible happened. Oh, a miracle! The number Pi jumped out of the textbook and spoke to Vasily.
So you think you don't need to know me?
The boy was confused and couldn't say a word.
But every engineer must know me. Don't believe me? Want to check?
Asked the number Pi.
I do.
Answered Vasily.
And suddenly, instead of his room, he found himself on a construction site. Before him lay a large sheet of paper and drawing tools. Everyone around called him the chief engineer and waited for him to finish the drawing of a house. After all, only with a drawing could they begin to build. And Vasily got to work. But in his work, he didn't calculate mathematical computations or account for any details. Soon the drawing was ready.
The builders got to work. Everyone followed Vasily's drawing. But suddenly the unfinished house collapsed.
Some engineer you are! What did you draw for us here?
The builders cursed.
I'm sorry. I don't know why this happened.
Vasily kept saying.
It's a good thing we weren't on the construction site when the house collapsed. We could have died. Didn't you account for the ratio of the circumference to its diameter, the number Pi?
Asked the foreman.
The boy just blushed in response.
I don't know anything about this value.
Continuing to blush, Vasily answered.
What!? That's important. What kind of engineer are you then?
All the workers laughed at him.
Vasily ran away. He hid in a corner and began to sob. He cried for a long time, and when he was completely exhausted, he fell into a deep sleep.
When Vasily woke up and rubbed his sleepy, red eyes, he found himself back home, and the number Pi was standing before him.
Forgive me, I never thought you were such an important value. I understand now. From now on, I will approach my studies responsibly.
Vasily began to study more diligently. He grew up, and his dream came true: he became a famous engineer. In his work, he always accounted for all calculations and never forgot about the number Pi. On his desk, next to photographs of his children, there was also a small figurine in the shape of the Greek letter Pi, symbolizing the famous number PI. And all the construction work done according to Vasily's drawings always ended successfully.
Now Vasily himself earnestly advised the younger generation to study all mathematical constants. After all, you never know in which field you'll need to apply your knowledge, so it's essential to study, study, and study again.
