@newstalkfm "If I could describe it in three words: "Wordle for maths" - Meet the man who is making maths fun 🤝🔢 23-year-old David Carr is the Co-Developer of @pimathapp, the app that is taking Ireland by storm 📲 #news #irishnews #irishtiktok #irelandtiktok #ireland #fyp #leavingcert #math #mathstrick #studytok #study #school #schoolhacks ♬ original sound - Newstalk

An Irish scholarship student and entrepreneur has devised an app to make maths more popular among the general public.

David Carr, a 23-year-old from Ashbourne, Co Meath, is currently studying in Indiana, USA, where he has launched the Pi² app, which has reached the top 10 in the Google Play Store’s educational charts.

Inspired by the success of Wordle, Carr set out to create a maths-focused equivalent. As a self-confessed maths “geek,” he saw an opportunity to help people develop a love for numbers through an engaging and interactive experience.

The app, co-created with fellow computer science student Chris Fakhimi at the University of Notre Dame, features a one-minute daily quiz with six problems covering addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. Users can also challenge themselves with more advanced problems in algebra and calculus, making the app beneficial for students preparing for exams.

Carr is studying through the Esteem Graduate Programme, a master’s programme that focuses on engineering, science, and technology entrepreneurship. Reflecting on his motivation, he said, “I saw that Wordle helped people love words, so I thought the same concept could work with maths.”

Beyond students, Carr envisions Pi² as a tool for families to challenge each other and a resource for older individuals looking to sharpen cognitive skills. “When you play the game, your mind will become sharper over time, and you’ll get quicker at mental maths,” he explained.

Ashbourne Community School and two US schools helped test the app, with over 500 students providing feedback before its official launch in January. Since then, the app has gained momentum, reaching number nine in the Google Play Store's education category.

Carr is preparing to graduate from Notre Dame and has recently secured a position as Director of Strategic Insights and Innovation at Michigan-based AEBetancourt, an AI-driven recruitment company. While stepping into the business world, he remains committed to growing Pi² as a start-up, ensuring that more people can discover the joy of maths.

#ThePi²Effect #MathsMadeFun #PiSquaredChallenge #BrainBoost #IrishInnovation