Can you write pie instead of pi?

Question

american heritage dictionary: yes
dictionary.com unabridged: no
gage canadian dictionary: no

If not what kind of pie is that?

i mean pi , the mathematical word

Answer 1

You are confusing to words, perhaps three.

The Americn Heritage Dictionary has TWO distinct words listed as "pi"

First there is pi 1 This is the one people have been discussing so far -- the Greek letter we use as a mathematical symbol

And no, it CANNOT be written as "pie", nor does American Heritage Dictionary say it can.

But there is also pi 2 -- a PRINTING term of unknown origin.

Here is its American Heritage listing as repeated at
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/pi

pi 2 also pie (Printing)
n. pl. pis also pies
An amount of type that has been jumbled or thrown together at random.
v. pied (pd) also pied, pi·ing also pie·ing, pies also pies
v.tr. To jumble or mix up (type).
v.intr. To become jumbled.
[origin unknown]

So, if you are using THIS word-- NOT "pie" of the sort you bake NOR the Greek letter/math symbol "pi"-- you can indeed spell it "pie" as well.

Note that dictionary.com does not even have a listing for this second "pi" --hence there is no discrepancy

Answer 2

"pi" is a greek letter normally use to represent the ratio of the radius to the circumference.

Would you write "apple pi"? Of course not
so the reverse is also proper - use pi when you are talking maths and science

Answer 3

Pi is a letter in the Greek alphabet, and it is spelled as "pi". When you are referring to 3.14....., you are referring to that Greek letter, therefore it is incorrect to spell it "pie". Plus, a lot of intellectual types will think of you as a complete moron if you used "pie".

Answer 4

Pi is different than pie ( food). Pi is Greek symbol ( can't find it on this keyboard ) for ratio circle circumference to radius.

Answer 5

Well that depends on whether you wanna eat it or
you are wanting it for your calculations!

Please refer to any dict./encyclopedia for further clarification!
[Pasted here are the starting lines from :
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pie
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This article is about the baked good.
For the mathematical constant, see Pi. For other uses, see Pie (disambiguation).

A slice cut from an apple pie pie is a baked food, with a baked shell usually made of pastry that covers or completely contains a filling of meat, fish, vegetables, fruit, cheeses, creams, chocolate, custards, nuts, or other sweet or savoury ingredients.

Answer 6

what kind of pi/pie? if it's the mathematical pi, it can't be spelt pie. if it's a tart it can't be spelt pi. if it's an American pie, i don't think you can spell it pi :)

just my thoughts

Answer 7

If it's in maths, no, otherwise yes

Answer 8

YES ,OTHER WISE IS AMERICAN PIE