Man Recites Pi to 100,000 Places

Wed Oct 4, 2006 9:00 AM EDT

world-news, odd-news, pi, memorizing

Associated Press

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5.0

0.5

{"commentId":315335,"authorDomain":"mskadu"}

Mskadu

Thats pretty impressive! Good luck Haraguchi-san.

{"commentId":315335,"threadId":"45816","contentId":"385756","authorDomain":"mskadu"}

#1 - Wed Oct 4, 2006 10:52 AM EDT

{"commentId":315966,"authorDomain":"vincec"}

VinceC

I have no idea how you could do such a thing. Completely amazing!

{"commentId":315966,"threadId":"45816","contentId":"385756","authorDomain":"vincec"}

#2 - Wed Oct 4, 2006 3:40 PM EDT

{"commentId":316045,"authorDomain":"kaboom"}

kaboom

He swallowed the book high speed math.

{"commentId":316045,"threadId":"45816","contentId":"385756","authorDomain":"kaboom"}

#3 - Wed Oct 4, 2006 4:35 PM EDT

{"commentId":316286,"authorDomain":"noah"}

Noah Bradley

Very impressive stuff. I remember when he first set the record of 82K or something that I started to memorize Pi. Had 50 digits memorized at my peak, 32 pretty solid, though.

Hasn't gotten me many girls, though.

{"commentId":316286,"threadId":"45816","contentId":"385756","authorDomain":"noah"}

3 votes

#4 - Wed Oct 4, 2006 7:17 PM EDT

{"commentId":316544,"authorDomain":"noah"}

Noah Bradley

Correction: when he set that first record I was seven. Thus, not memorizing Pi. Let's just say a year or so ago I memorized a little. *sigh*

{"commentId":316544,"threadId":"45816","contentId":"385756","authorDomain":"noah"}

1 vote

#4.1 - Wed Oct 4, 2006 11:12 PM EDT

{"commentId":316911,"authorDomain":"dustind"}

Dustin Doiron

Memorizing Pi = Babe Magnet.

{"commentId":316911,"threadId":"45816","contentId":"385756","authorDomain":"dustind"}

1 vote

#4.2 - Thu Oct 5, 2006 8:48 AM EDT

{"commentId":316925,"authorDomain":"ansab"}

Ansab

Making pie: Babe Magnet

{"commentId":316925,"threadId":"45816","contentId":"385756","authorDomain":"ansab"}

3 votes

#4.3 - Thu Oct 5, 2006 8:59 AM EDT

{"commentId":317832,"authorDomain":"Techgamer"}

Techgamer

Yo I know Pi to a thousand places.
*Points for anyone who gets the reference*

100,000 to be exact.

3.14152654, that's how far I can get without looking. :P

{"commentId":317832,"threadId":"45816","contentId":"385756","authorDomain":"Techgamer"}

#5 - Thu Oct 5, 2006 5:28 PM EDT

{"commentId":318269,"authorDomain":"ansab"}

Ansab

Weird Al in

"White and Nerdy"

Straight Outta Lynnwood
Released September 26th, 2006

{"commentId":318269,"threadId":"45816","contentId":"385756","authorDomain":"ansab"}

2 votes

#5.1 - Thu Oct 5, 2006 11:12 PM EDT

{"commentId":326850,"authorDomain":"delirioux"}

Delirioux

Good you won't try your 100.001 attempt, to find out you missed out on the 5th spot.

3.1415 -9- 2654

{"commentId":326850,"threadId":"45816","contentId":"385756","authorDomain":"delirioux"}

#5.2 - Thu Oct 12, 2006 2:10 PM EDT

{"commentId":318073,"authorDomain":"rcole"}

Robert Cole

Messed it up even there. 3.141592654.

Missed a 9 :)

{"commentId":318073,"threadId":"45816","contentId":"385756","authorDomain":"rcole"}

#6 - Thu Oct 5, 2006 8:46 PM EDT

{"commentId":318081,"authorDomain":"Techgamer"}

Techgamer

You're right, and I even recited it earlier today, with the 9.

Oh well, either it was a typo or I wasn't paying attention. :P

{"commentId":318081,"threadId":"45816","contentId":"385756","authorDomain":"Techgamer"}

#7 - Thu Oct 5, 2006 8:51 PM EDT

{"commentId":318204,"authorDomain":"sjaxso"}

Sjaxso

"It is usually written out to a maximum of three decimal places, as 3.141"

I didn't even take my schoolboy math exams, but to three places isn't it 3.142?

{"commentId":318204,"threadId":"45816","contentId":"385756","authorDomain":"sjaxso"}

#8 - Thu Oct 5, 2006 10:20 PM EDT

{"commentId":318284,"authorDomain":"noah"}

Noah Bradley

If you round it, then yes. Otherwise no.

{"commentId":318284,"threadId":"45816","contentId":"385756","authorDomain":"noah"}

1 vote

#8.1 - Thu Oct 5, 2006 11:21 PM EDT

{"commentId":318439,"authorDomain":"vincento"}

Vincento

Yes, and also Pi is a mathematical constant, not a physical. A physical constant comes from an experiment, or a theory, but is related to physical properties. For exemple, the ratio of the mass of the proton and electron.

Pi is also used in physics, but comes from the math. There need to be no concrete object for defining Pi.

{"commentId":318439,"threadId":"45816","contentId":"385756","authorDomain":"vincento"}

#8.2 - Fri Oct 6, 2006 3:32 AM EDT

{"commentId":318212,"authorDomain":"noah"}

Noah Bradley

3.14159265358979323846264338327950

Eat it, fools.

{"commentId":318212,"threadId":"45816","contentId":"385756","authorDomain":"noah"}

1 vote

#9 - Thu Oct 5, 2006 10:22 PM EDT

{"commentId":318293,"authorDomain":"umerm"}

Umer MansoorDeleted

{"commentId":318305,"authorDomain":"essio"}

Steve Offner

In 1974 as a college student, I memorized pi to 1,560 places beating the then-current record of 930. For some reason, Guinness apparently didn't accept my evidence and declared a young man in England the record-holder with 1,250 places. Although most of them are long forgotten, I can still recite -- and type -- the first 100 places from memory (only one-tenth of one percent of the new record!): 3.1415926535897932384626433832795028841971693993751058209749445923078164062862089986280348253421170679

{"commentId":318305,"threadId":"45816","contentId":"385756","authorDomain":"essio"}

#11 - Thu Oct 5, 2006 11:42 PM EDT

{"commentId":318322,"authorDomain":"josh81"}

Josh K. - 81

Eat This Noah!

I have only gotten to 400

The Brain Hurts after that.

{"commentId":318322,"threadId":"45816","contentId":"385756","authorDomain":"josh81"}

#12 - Thu Oct 5, 2006 11:53 PM EDT

{"commentId":443281,"authorDomain":"kaisejon"}

averysmartguy

3.
1415926535897932384626433832795028841971693993751058209749445923078164 0628620899862803482534211706798214808651328230664709384460955058223172 5359408128481117450284102701938521105559644622948954930381964428810975 6659334461284756482337867831652712019091456485669234603486104543266482 133936072602491412732458700660631558817488152092096282925409171536436 789259036001133053054882046652138414695194151160943305727036 575959195309218611738193261179310511854807446237996274956735 188575272489122793818301194912983367336244065664308602139494 639522473719070217986094370277053921717629317675238467481846 766940513200056812714526356082778577134275778960917363717872 146844090122495343014654958537105079227968925892354201995611 212902196086403441815981362977477130996051870721134999999837 297804995105973173281609631859502445945534690830264252230825 334468503526193118817101000313783875288658753320838142061717 766914730359825349042875546873115956286388235378759375195778 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198343893415961318543475464955697810382930971646514384070070 736041123735998434522516105070270562352660127648483084076118 301305279320542746286540360367453286510570658748822569815793 678976697422057505968344086973502014102067235850200724522563 265134105592401902742162484391403599895353945909440704691209 140938700126456001623742880210927645793106579229552498872758 46101264836999892256959688159205600101655256375678
You think you are so smart.

{"commentId":443281,"threadId":"45816","contentId":"385756","authorDomain":"kaisejon"}

#12.1 - Fri Dec 22, 2006 10:33 PM EST

{"commentId":318324,"authorDomain":"tstone"}

Tony Stone

Wouldn't it suck if they replayed the tape and found out he messed up on the 20th number... about 15 seconds in to the whole event?

{"commentId":318324,"threadId":"45816","contentId":"385756","authorDomain":"tstone"}

1 vote

#13 - Thu Oct 5, 2006 11:54 PM EDT

{"commentId":318359,"authorDomain":"MickBurke"}

MickBurke

Fascinating that a mental health professional is the one who spent the time and energy to recite Pi to 100000 digits. A sane man never would...

{"commentId":318359,"threadId":"45816","contentId":"385756","authorDomain":"MickBurke"}

#14 - Fri Oct 6, 2006 12:35 AM EDT

{"commentId":318392,"authorDomain":"lfx"}

lfx

"Eat This..." you know i can paste everything form clipboard, we need proofs!

{"commentId":318392,"threadId":"45816","contentId":"385756","authorDomain":"lfx"}

#15 - Fri Oct 6, 2006 1:33 AM EDT

{"commentId":318505,"authorDomain":"Midnighter"}

The Midnighter

It's... not that impressive. He's just reading a crapload of numbers, seriously - how bored do you have to be? or.. Rich I guess, rich people are always looking for new things to do. Bastards. xD
Eh, did he recite it from memory? That'd be a different story.

{"commentId":318505,"threadId":"45816","contentId":"385756","authorDomain":"Midnighter"}

#16 - Fri Oct 6, 2006 7:58 AM EDT

{"commentId":318669,"authorDomain":"Sploithunter"}

Sploithunter

Yep, he did recite it from memory.

{"commentId":318669,"threadId":"45816","contentId":"385756","authorDomain":"Sploithunter"}

#16.1 - Fri Oct 6, 2006 10:21 AM EDT

{"commentId":318599,"authorDomain":"umerm"}

Umer Mansoor

I memorized all Windows process/thread related API functions, thus setting a new record.

{"commentId":318599,"threadId":"45816","contentId":"385756","authorDomain":"umerm"}

#17 - Fri Oct 6, 2006 9:22 AM EDT

{"commentId":318687,"authorDomain":null}

Deleted

{"commentId":318803,"authorDomain":"joeedwards"}

Joseph Edwards

"...I'm gonna set the world record for puttin' nine pieces of chewed gum up on my face and singin' the "I'm Just Me" song and hoppin' around on one foot!"

{"commentId":318803,"threadId":"45816","contentId":"385756","authorDomain":"joeedwards"}

#19 - Fri Oct 6, 2006 11:49 AM EDT

{"commentId":318819,"authorDomain":"remino"}

Remi (remino.net)

Well, maybe he should be told that he will only need 47 digits of pi for his entire life.

According to verbose.net:

"Only 47 decimal digits of pi would be sufficient to inscribe a circle around the visible universe that doesn't deviate from perfect circularity by more than the distance across a single proton. (i.e. far less than one hundred digits of pi are all that is necessary for practical mathematic computation. There is little need for the evaluation of pi past this point, and certainly none that require over 50 billion digits!)"

{"commentId":318819,"threadId":"45816","contentId":"385756","authorDomain":"remino"}

#20 - Fri Oct 6, 2006 12:07 PM EDT

{"commentId":318899,"authorDomain":"ccho"}

ccho

"It is usually written out to a maximum of three decimal places, as 3.141, in math textbooks."

In my day, math textbooks rounded correctly.

{"commentId":318899,"threadId":"45816","contentId":"385756","authorDomain":"ccho"}

#21 - Fri Oct 6, 2006 12:54 PM EDT

{"commentId":319152,"authorDomain":null}

Deleted

{"commentId":320229,"authorDomain":"zonie"}

Zonie

Yes... the rounding of a number such as Pi follow the basic rules of math as well; rounding 3.1415926535897932384626433832795028841971693993751058209749445923078164062862 to a 3-decimal number would return simply 3.142 which is all i bothered to memorize because that's all you need for the equations we normal human beings are able to solve in our relatively slow-paced and simple mind...

Now, as to how he did it? Simplest thing on earth, you remember it in sequences which you then conform to event-years, birthdates, phonenumbers, pincodes, even numerically ordered rhymes that you can easier remember and recall in your mind later on because such information is stored in layers in the brain instead of as sequences, thus never messing up the correct order of the sequences you memorized... but that isn't the point, the point is WHY he did it;
We all find things in our lives, perhaps other peoples lives, or just in the world we live in that we focus on and do our very best to master, and quite often one finds oneself searching for that one thing that one masters more than anyone else in the world - as a professional brainologist(fancy word for a shrink?) this man devoted his life to memorizing endless amounts of digits for Pi.. for reasons that are his own of course until he unravels what drives a man through so many hours of repetitive learning of numbers...

And then comes reminiscence; should we envy this man, loathe him and his choices, or seek to do better than him at what he has chosen as his calling in life? no, no and no again; if you're not innately good at memorizing sequences of numbers or phrases, don't make it a habit to sit and try to learn more decimals of pi because you will most likely never beat this man at it unless you are, so instead do yourself and the world a favour and keep looking for that one thing you CAN do better than everyone else...

That's it from me, no offenses meant, and if any were taken anyway i apologize since it was sincerely not my intent.

Be you Man or Klingon, you still need to shower and be loved damnit! - Spock said it ^^

{"commentId":320229,"threadId":"45816","contentId":"385756","authorDomain":"zonie"}

#23 - Sat Oct 7, 2006 6:42 PM EDT

{"commentId":325086,"authorDomain":"Zureiyaa"}

Zureiyaa

I can memorize the first 500 digits :) But i look forward to making new Finnish record in a year :D It's a bit more than 2000 only =(

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#24 - Wed Oct 11, 2006 12:36 PM EDT

{"commentId":575275,"authorDomain":"thedigitallife"}

the.digital.life

pi day is coming up. at school we're having a contest of who could memorize the most. i got up to 35. thought it was a lot till i found out my friend got down 75. yes, thats memorized. =[ *sigh*

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#25 - Thu Mar 8, 2007 4:23 PM EST

{"commentId":10403697,"authorDomain":"breelaboy"}

breelaboyDeleted

{"commentId":10420883,"authorDomain":"brianalampton"}

brianalamptonDeleted

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Backyard

Man Recites Pi to 100,000 Places

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