"Harry knew pi out to 3.141592 because accuracy to one part in a million was enough for most practical purposes. Hermione knew one hundred digits of pi because that was how many digits had been printed in the back of her math textbook."
I had a high school math teacher who gave extra credit to anyone who memorized the poster of pi that she had over her blackboard. I believe it had 49 digits after its decimal point, and I learned them all.
Memorizing all the digits of pi isn't too hard. There are only ten of them, right? It's the order that gets you. /haha
I can accurately recite precisely 84 digits, but for some reason I have trouble remembering digit 85. 84 digits is enough to impress most people, though. :)
How many digits do you know by heart? Seems unfair to ask without sharing. :p
I used to know 300 digits fairly solidly, having memorized them in junior high when I was introduced to the concept of pi. Now I can (usually) rattle off 200+ digits without making a mistake.
Still waiting for a practical application for this bit of knowledge. :-)
Can you sing? (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCRADkV3TZ8) Sophie, the second from the left, is actually living in San Francisco at the moment, busking in the Castro with her accordion. I'm sure she'd be thrilled to do a duet with you. Maybe you'd earn yourself a few quarters--that's practical, right? ;)
Oh, sure. Who can't remember 7,500 digits of pi? After all, you just have to memorize ten numbers, and then it's trivial to remember which comes after which.
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2011-01-30 11:00 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-01-30 11:07 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-01-30 01:19 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-01-30 03:18 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-01-30 07:43 pm (UTC)I can accurately recite precisely 84 digits, but for some reason I have trouble remembering digit 85. 84 digits is enough to impress most people, though. :)
How many digits do you know by heart? Seems unfair to ask without sharing. :p
no subject
Date: 2011-01-30 09:52 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-01-30 07:53 pm (UTC)Still waiting for a practical application for this bit of knowledge. :-)
no subject
Date: 2011-02-01 01:00 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-01-30 09:28 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-01-31 02:10 am (UTC)Now as to WHY that mnemonic has stuck with me for 25 years or so, I have no idea.
no subject
Date: 2011-02-01 03:10 am (UTC)How I wish I
could calculate pi.
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Date: 2011-01-31 03:54 pm (UTC)Mike
no subject
Date: 2011-02-01 01:12 am (UTC)(I remember that one. I love it when puzzle hunts involve uncertain innocents like the cute waitress who handed us the puzzle.)
no subject
Date: 2011-02-01 01:25 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-02-01 01:34 am (UTC)