On 12/13/2010 02:36 PM, Mike McCarty wrote:
Marko Vojinovic wrote:
> On Sat, Nov 6, 2010 at 8:43 AM, Mogens Kjaer<mk(a)lemo.dk> wrote:
>>>
http://www.kurims.kyoto-u.ac.jp/~ooura/pi_fft.html
>>>
>>> You'll need RAM to get many digits.
>> 1.6 G decimals in 20 hours on a machine with 16G RAM, running
>> x86_64 Fedora 12.
>
> Really, I'm curious, is there any real-world problem where anyone
> would actually *need* pi to a G decimal places? I mean, are these kind
> of computations actually useful for someone, or is it just a matter of
> "we have the power to do it, so let's do it" thing? Other than entry
> into the Guinness book of records, that is?
Yes, there is. Belated response, I know.
There are two important uses for such computations I can
think of off the top of my head.
First, it's a good test of the functionality of a new machine.
When the first new unit runs off the factory floor, this type
of lengthy computation with known results is a good test.
(Flash back 15 years) "I am Pentium of Borg. Division is futile. You
will be approximated."
Second, there are certain theoretical ideas about the distribution
of digits in transcendental numbers which can make progress via
such lengthy computations.
Nobody needs more than about 6 figures for doing any engineering
work, however.
Is string theory, quantum mechanics or relativity the "truer" reflection
of reality? Hell, we sent space probes on close fly-bys of Uranus and
hit asteroids using good ol' Newtonian mechanics.
(Just twisting the tail!)
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