How can anyone remember 100,000 numbers?

The Japan Times ^ | 12/23/06 | TOMOKO OTAKE

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

I like pi.

You are not alone.

[devane617]

Ummm, P'can Pi is my favorite.

[Fierce Allegiance]

Now that is pure geekiness!

LOL!

[Paleo Conservative]

3.14159265358979

[Old Professer]

It is the volume of a sphere that is fascinating, fractions... the only math expression where nothing is ever lost, just difficult to pry loose from its partner(s).

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

In Dava Sobel's book, "Longitude" there is a sentence, "One might as well try to make sense out of the ratio of the circumference to the diameter of a circle."

This is an obvious editorial disfigurement of "One might as well try to rationalize pi." Why not "One might as well try to square the circle.", which means the same thing and will not confuse editors or other innumerates?

This is an example of why authors need to watch their editors very, very carefully.

[mikrofon]

Speaking of "pie-eyed", one of the more fascinating math identities relating the numerical constants is the formula:

e^[pi]*i = -1

A more well-known equation is:

pi + e = Good Eatin'

[El Gato]

Or the area of a sphere

Or the strength of a radar return from a ballistic missile warhead.

Star Wars wouldn't be possible without Pi.

GPS makes extensive use of Pi too.

[Beagle8U]

From your screen name I take it you like math, so here is a fun formula that, while not exact, comes very close and is useful.

To figure the weight of any fish by measuring with a flexible tape measure. ( such as a tailor uses)

LG squared, divided by 800 = WP

L being length in inches...G being girth in inches... and WP= weight in pounds.

So length times girth squared, divided by 800 will give you weight.

It works with any fish regardless of shape...ie.. a bluegill or a northern pike.

Sorry I'm too puter illiterate to write it in algebra form on the puter.

[Dawggie]

I like my pi in 2s. This is rad. Like 2 pi rad.

[Mark was here]

You are a fluke of the universe. Rotate your tires.

And weather you realize it or not, the Universe is laughing behind your back.

[Gaffer]

There's a name for it....idiot savant....

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

"Euler's identity" is usually expressed as:

e^(i*pi)+1 = 0

This equation has the five most important constants in analysis in one compact equation!

[Moonman62]

And if the equation is slighlty modified to include 1 and 0 that gives two more important constants of the computer age.

[steve in DC]

No matter what you call it, this is going to look just super on somebody'e resume!

[JCEccles]

I can remember 100,000 numbers. 1,2,3,4,5,.... Need I go on?

Clever.

But if you can recite all 100,000 numbers (and I am sure you can) is it because you really committed the entire sequence of numbers to memory or because you relied on an easily-remembered algorithm to enable you to recite the numbers sequentially?

[Cacique]

This guy needs to get a life. But at 61 I guess it's too late.

[Tymesup]

Pi and Poe intersect:

http://users.aol.com/s6sj7gt/mikerav.htm

[johnthebaptistmoore]

Pi is also the name of a very strange movie.

[randog]

Great book. My wife couldn't understand why (a) someone wrote a book on pi, and (b) why I was so engrossed with it. But she likes the money I bring home because I understand its importance (along with a few other constants...;^)