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Scientist Smashes Pi Record

He calculates number to 2.7 trillion digits on his home PC

By Nick McMaster,  Newser Staff

Posted Jan 7, 2010 2:38 PM CST

(Newser) – A French scientist shattered the record for calculated digits of Pi, working the number out to 2.7 trillion decimal places—and he did it with a home PC. Fabrice Bellard beat the previous record by 100 billion digits, using a new software algorithm he claims is 20 times faster than previous calculations. It still took him 131 days.

"I got my first book about Pi when I was 14," Bellard tells the Telegraph. "I am not especially interested in the digits of Pi. It's more than just for the fun of it—Pi is a way of testing a method."

This photo taken June 4, 2009 shows the symbol for Pi is seen on a window at Pi pizza in St. Louis.
This photo taken June 4, 2009 shows the symbol for Pi is seen on a window at Pi pizza in St. Louis.   (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 32 comments
krymsonkyng
Jan 8, 2010 12:59 PM CST
Must be Mac users.
krymsonkyng
Jan 8, 2010 5:44 AM CST
Wait... THAT'S THE ULTIMATE QUESTION!!! THE LAST TWO DIGITS ARE 42!!! YOU SIR, ARE A GENIUS!!! *hysteric laughter*
riffran
Jan 8, 2010 5:19 AM CST
@unafiliated.....I just installed ubuntu on an old Pc...bit of a steep learning curve isn't it..lol....still trying to get it to install wine..damn machine.. :)

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