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Happy Pi Day 2007!
- Thread starter Doctor Q
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Use 355/113 instead.
I thought that photo I posted was the ultimate super calculator!
I'll say yes to your question, that infinite number multiplications would be accurate since I can assume the calculator has whatever "super" features are required. Then again, if the inifinte numbers are cardinal numbers like Aleph-null and C, we'd first have to agree on what the definition of their product would be.
Use 355/113 instead.
I thought that photo I posted was the ultimate super calculator!
I meant that calculator.
Pi Day, got to love it.
My math class sat around, eat Pie(had this Ice Pie with strawberry ice cream, that was made with strawberry jello and vanilla ice cream, and it was SOOO good), learned about Pi, and they we saw who could memorize the most digits of pi. My one friend got 130ish, my other friend got about 40ish.
My math class sat around, eat Pie(had this Ice Pie with strawberry ice cream, that was made with strawberry jello and vanilla ice cream, and it was SOOO good), learned about Pi, and they we saw who could memorize the most digits of pi. My one friend got 130ish, my other friend got about 40ish.
The Pi-Position Game, Part I of II
Here is the pi-themed game I made up. If you like this sort of stuff, read on. If it's not your cup of tea, stop reading and go, um... have a cup of tea!
Take the digits of pi's decimal expansion and number them, with the "3" being the 0th digit, the "1" being the 1st digit, the "4" being the 2nd digit, the next "1" being the 3rd digit, and so on.
So each digit has a position number, like this:
If I tell you an integer 0 or greater, you can look to see where that integer's digits occur within pi, and notice the starting position number. For example, where does the integer 32 first occur within pi? Answer: at position 15.
Why is the answer 15 for the integer 32? Because if you look at pi starting at digit #15, you see the digits "3" and "2" in sequence.
Are you with me so far? Good!
We'll write the integer and its answer this way:
Do you see it at position 3? You should. That's because the digits 1 and 5 can be found starting at the 3rd digit of 3.14159....
Remember that you start numbering the digits of pi from 0, not from 1, so we say that the "15" starts at the 3rd digit, not at the 4th digit.
We'll write what we've learned this way:
Now it's your turn. I'll give you this pop quiz before I explain more about the game in Part II.
Question 1: If I pick 43, what's the answer? Why?
Question 2: If I pick the answer to Question 1, what's the answer? Why?
Here is the pi-themed game I made up. If you like this sort of stuff, read on. If it's not your cup of tea, stop reading and go, um... have a cup of tea!
Take the digits of pi's decimal expansion and number them, with the "3" being the 0th digit, the "1" being the 1st digit, the "4" being the 2nd digit, the next "1" being the 3rd digit, and so on.
So each digit has a position number, like this:
Code:
3 . 1 4 1 5 9 2 6 5 3 5 8 9 7 9 3 2 3 8 4 6 2 6 4 3 3 8 3 2 7 9 5 0 2 8 8 4 ...
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 ...If I tell you an integer 0 or greater, you can look to see where that integer's digits occur within pi, and notice the starting position number. For example, where does the integer 32 first occur within pi? Answer: at position 15.
Why is the answer 15 for the integer 32? Because if you look at pi starting at digit #15, you see the digits "3" and "2" in sequence.
Are you with me so far? Good!
We'll write the integer and its answer this way:
32 -> 15
Now we'll make it more interesting. Let's take the answer to that question and use it as the next integer. We started with 32, and found it in position 15. So where is the first 15 in pi?Do you see it at position 3? You should. That's because the digits 1 and 5 can be found starting at the 3rd digit of 3.14159....
Remember that you start numbering the digits of pi from 0, not from 1, so we say that the "15" starts at the 3rd digit, not at the 4th digit.
We'll write what we've learned this way:
32 -> 15
15 -> 3
or better yet this way:15 -> 3
32 -> 15 -> 3
Now it's your turn. I'll give you this pop quiz before I explain more about the game in Part II.
Question 1: If I pick 43, what's the answer? Why?
Question 2: If I pick the answer to Question 1, what's the answer? Why?
Thank you, but I'll have to disagree with you. We both liked math, but I just made up a dopey game, while he was the greatest physicist ever and changed our view of the nature of the universe. So he gets a few extra points for that.
However, I do brush my hair sometimes, and I don't pose for many famous photos with my tongue sticking out, so I've got that to say for myself.
Now who's gonna take the pop quiz so I can tell you more about the game?
43 -> 23 because if you look at pi starting at digit #23, you see the # 4 and 3 in sequence
23 -> 16 because if you look at pi starting at digit #16, you see the # 2 and 3 in sequence
How about:
Googol multiply by a Million, divide by half and square it. What is the answer?
(This is geek stuff and I like it )
Googol multiply by a Million, divide by half and square it. What is the answer?
(This is geek stuff and I like it
)
The Pi-Position Game, Part II of II
mrkramer gets an A+ so I'll finish explaining the game.
The object of the Pi-Position Game is to start at an integer (one I pick, one you pick, your MacRumors member number, or whatever positive number you like), find the answer, and then use the answer as your next integer. You repeat this until something "interesting" happens. Then you report what you found to your fellow math geeks.
Let's pick an integer and try it. I'll pick 41. That's at position 2. So pick 2. That's at position 6. So pick 6. That's at position 7. So pick 7. That's at position 13. So pick 13. Oops, 13, is not among the digits in my post above. Now what?
It's time to pull out the secret weapon. There are a number of websites that look for integers within the digits of pi. This one is my favorite, because it's fast and as far as I can tell is accurate. It has one feature I don't like, which is that it ignores the leading 3 in pi. So in my game the integer 3 gets you position 0, but on that web page the integer 3 comes out as 9.
Therefore, if you have an integer that is at the beginning of pi, the answer is 0. Here are those integers:
Using that website, let's continue the game. 13 is in position 110. 110 is in position 174. 174 is in position 155. 155 is in position 314. And, lo and behold, 314 is in position 0! Continuing, we find that 0 is in position 32, 32 is in position 15, 15 is in position 3, and 3 is in position 0.
Look what we found! A loop! I write it as follows:
Other interesting numbers might be integers with repeating digits like 11111, or in sequence, like 12345. You can also hunt for sequences that end at a given position, e.g., a way to start at a small number and end up at your MacRumors member number.
For some integers, you might not find anything interesting, at least not soon enough to make it worthwhile. You might decide to give up when you are getting answers with too many digits. You might always stop when you get to 4-digit numbers, for example. My member number diverges past the 200-million-digit capacity of the pi-search website. That's sort of interesting too!
You can play the Pi-Position Game with your own integers and report what you find, or you can accept one of my challenges:
Challenge #1 - Find a loop involving only one-digit numbers.
Challenge #2 - Find a loop involving only two-digit numbers.
Challenge #3 - Find a one-digit number whose answer is one more than the number.
Challenge #3 - Find a two-digit number whose answer is one more than the number.
This game isn't a trick - it's just a number-pattern activity. I've checked that there are solutions to all four of these challenges. Let's see if anybody can find any of them before it's next year's Pi Day!
mrkramer gets an A+
so I'll finish explaining the game.The object of the Pi-Position Game is to start at an integer (one I pick, one you pick, your MacRumors member number, or whatever positive number you like), find the answer, and then use the answer as your next integer. You repeat this until something "interesting" happens. Then you report what you found to your fellow math geeks.
Let's pick an integer and try it. I'll pick 41. That's at position 2. So pick 2. That's at position 6. So pick 6. That's at position 7. So pick 7. That's at position 13. So pick 13. Oops, 13, is not among the digits in my post above. Now what?
It's time to pull out the secret weapon. There are a number of websites that look for integers within the digits of pi. This one is my favorite, because it's fast and as far as I can tell is accurate. It has one feature I don't like, which is that it ignores the leading 3 in pi. So in my game the integer 3 gets you position 0, but on that web page the integer 3 comes out as 9.
Therefore, if you have an integer that is at the beginning of pi, the answer is 0. Here are those integers:
3
31
314
3141
31415
314159
...
For any other number, the website gives the correct answer.31
314
3141
31415
314159
...
Using that website, let's continue the game. 13 is in position 110. 110 is in position 174. 174 is in position 155. 155 is in position 314. And, lo and behold, 314 is in position 0! Continuing, we find that 0 is in position 32, 32 is in position 15, 15 is in position 3, and 3 is in position 0.
Look what we found! A loop! I write it as follows:
0 -> 32 -> 15 -> 3 -> 0 -> ...
Findind a loop is what I'd call interesting! Other interesting numbers might be integers with repeating digits like 11111, or in sequence, like 12345. You can also hunt for sequences that end at a given position, e.g., a way to start at a small number and end up at your MacRumors member number.
For some integers, you might not find anything interesting, at least not soon enough to make it worthwhile. You might decide to give up when you are getting answers with too many digits. You might always stop when you get to 4-digit numbers, for example. My member number diverges past the 200-million-digit capacity of the pi-search website. That's sort of interesting too!
You can play the Pi-Position Game with your own integers and report what you find, or you can accept one of my challenges:
Challenge #1 - Find a loop involving only one-digit numbers.
Challenge #2 - Find a loop involving only two-digit numbers.
Challenge #3 - Find a one-digit number whose answer is one more than the number.
Challenge #3 - Find a two-digit number whose answer is one more than the number.
This game isn't a trick - it's just a number-pattern activity. I've checked that there are solutions to all four of these challenges. Let's see if anybody can find any of them before it's next year's Pi Day!
This is advanced Calculus stuff(right now I in 9th Grade Algebra), I am actually going to give this a shot even though I am not that that smart.
Challenge 1: 3-4-9-5
Challenge 2: 12-24-14-21
Challenge 3: 2
Challenge 4: 17
Challenge 1: 3-4-9-5
Challenge 2: 12-24-14-21
Challenge 3: 2
Challenge 4: 17
Yay I got an A+mrkramer gets an A+
1 -> 1 ->... does that one count?
19 -> 37 -> 46 -> 19 -> ...
that one is 6
that would be 27. Edit I'm done yay.
100% correct. Wow! you are up to an A++++! Maybe you should teach the class!
* * * * *
Now I have something to tell you all. It's such an amazing coincidence that I'm going to have to work hard to get you to believe me.
Every Wednesday, my buddies and I get a bunch of fortune cookies, and we each open one. We compare notes if we get interesting fortunes. Sometimes the wording is in broken English and those are often the funniest.
I opened mine this afternoon, read it, did a double take, read it again, shook my head in disbelief, and then burst out laughing so hard I started coughing.
My fortune was a routine one ("You have a deep appreciation of the arts and music.") but what struck me were the lucky numbers they put underneath:
3 14 21 34 40, 5
My lucky numbers today started with 3 14!!! That's certainly proof that I had a great Pi Day today! 
I made a Pecan-Pi. Authentic Texas Pecan Pie.
and I'm aware the 6 is backwards, I was doing this very, very quickly and I was watching TV at the same time.
Most of the pie is gone now.
Happy Pi day!
I thought of a way to give you evidence that I'm not making up my fortune-cookie story. I took a photo of today's newspaper with my fortune cookie slip. It didn't come out very focused (I'm lousy at closeups), but it's good enough.
Hey, I figure if these photos-with-a-newspaper always work for kidnappers, they'll work for me. And I get to commemorate March 14 and my lucky fortune.
Even if I hadn't posted this photo later in the week, I can "prove" that it was taken on March 14. The reason: I do the Sudoku in the paper every day, often while watching TV at the end of the day. The Sudoku in this photo isn't filled in yet, so you know it was taken before the end of the day on March 14! I'm just about to do this puzzle.
Until the DNA evidence comes back from the lab, that'll have to do!
Hey, I figure if these photos-with-a-newspaper always work for kidnappers, they'll work for me.
And I get to commemorate March 14 and my lucky fortune.Even if I hadn't posted this photo later in the week, I can "prove" that it was taken on March 14. The reason: I do the Sudoku in the paper every day, often while watching TV at the end of the day. The Sudoku in this photo isn't filled in yet, so you know it was taken before the end of the day on March 14! I'm just about to do this puzzle.
Until the DNA evidence comes back from the lab, that'll have to do!
Attachments
oy vey.
i is way cooler.
aaahhhhhhhh! math puns!!!!!!!
to be a nitpick and math nerd, Pi is not less than infinity. Pi is a number, infinity is a concept, but infinite numbers are numbers.
coincidentally, we had those in Chicago too...Happy Pi Day!!!!
Here's an appropriate YTMND for today!
On another note, i was delighted to find out that my math teacher gave out Little Debbie oatmeal cream pies to every student today
fishy (raises eyebrows)
In other news, this was spirit week at my school and every day had a rather stupid theme (I picked most, I'm on the student council executive board). Today was spy (alternatively spelled spi) and pi day, so my math nerd student council friends and I wrote happy S(Pi symbol) on all the boards, which was totally awesome. I actually thought of Q during math, as I very often do. And on the subject of geeks who like math and macs, has anyone ever heard of a smartboard? It's this huge projector/tablet thing, and our math teacher has one. It's the only benefit of being in "smart math" other than getting to brag at the 'cool' kids who don't understand why math is so cool or what you are saying.
I'm so off topic, but I'm tired and just finished a huge paper. Farewell, Pi day and goodnight to all at macrumors.
meh... just another 3.14 (or 14.3 where i come from). I'm waiting for 2015. That'll be a real Pi day
meh... just another 3.14 (or 14.3 where i come from). I'm waiting for 2015. That'll be a real Pi day
if you want to think that way, the real pi day happened in 1592. no more pi day now, but beware, the ides of march!
dammit... that means next big Pi day will be 15926. Do you reckon MR will still be up by then?
OK not to be a party pooper here but what is the actual usefulness of Pi.
it is useful if you want to find the area of a circle, or the circumference.
In the days of the Roman Empire, they said "All roads lead to Rome".
While playing the Pi-Position Game since yesterday, I've found that "Lots of roads lead to "pi" (as represented by the digits 314)."
Here are 19 sequences that take you through 110 and on to "pi":
While playing the Pi-Position Game since yesterday, I've found that "Lots of roads lead to "pi" (as represented by the digits 314)."
Here are 19 sequences that take you through 110 and on to "pi":
2 -> 6 -> 7 -> 13 -> 110 -> 174 -> 155 -> 314
4 -> 2 -> 6 -> 7 -> 13 -> 110 -> 174 -> 155 -> 314
5 -> 4 -> 2 -> 6 -> 7 -> 13 -> 110 -> 174 -> 155 -> 314
6 -> 7 -> 13 -> 110 -> 174 -> 155 -> 314
7 -> 13 -> 110 -> 174 -> 155 -> 314
9 -> 5 -> 4 -> 2 -> 6 -> 7 -> 13 -> 110 -> 174 -> 155 -> 314
13 -> 110 -> 174 -> 155 -> 314
26 -> 6 -> 7 -> 13 -> 110 -> 174 -> 155 -> 314
35 -> 9 -> 5 -> 4 -> 2 -> 6 -> 7 -> 13 -> 110 -> 174 -> 155 -> 314
41 -> 2 -> 6 -> 7 -> 13 -> 110 -> 174 -> 155 -> 314
42 -> 92 -> 5 -> 4 -> 2 -> 6 -> 7 -> 13 -> 110 -> 174 -> 155 -> 314
44 -> 59 -> 4 -> 2 -> 6 -> 7 -> 13 -> 110 -> 174 -> 155 -> 314
59 -> 4 -> 2 -> 6 -> 7 -> 13 -> 110 -> 174 -> 155 -> 314
65 -> 7 -> 13 -> 110 -> 174 -> 155 -> 314
69 -> 41 -> 2 -> 6 -> 7 -> 13 -> 110 -> 174 -> 155 -> 314
79 -> 13 -> 110 -> 174 -> 155 -> 314
83 -> 26 -> 6 -> 7 -> 13 -> 110 -> 174 -> 155 -> 314
92 -> 5 -> 4 -> 2 -> 6 -> 7 -> 13 -> 110 -> 174 -> 155 -> 314
99 -> 44 -> 59 -> 4 -> 2 -> 6 -> 7 -> 13 -> 110 -> 174 -> 155 -> 314
Since we also know that4 -> 2 -> 6 -> 7 -> 13 -> 110 -> 174 -> 155 -> 314
5 -> 4 -> 2 -> 6 -> 7 -> 13 -> 110 -> 174 -> 155 -> 314
6 -> 7 -> 13 -> 110 -> 174 -> 155 -> 314
7 -> 13 -> 110 -> 174 -> 155 -> 314
9 -> 5 -> 4 -> 2 -> 6 -> 7 -> 13 -> 110 -> 174 -> 155 -> 314
13 -> 110 -> 174 -> 155 -> 314
26 -> 6 -> 7 -> 13 -> 110 -> 174 -> 155 -> 314
35 -> 9 -> 5 -> 4 -> 2 -> 6 -> 7 -> 13 -> 110 -> 174 -> 155 -> 314
41 -> 2 -> 6 -> 7 -> 13 -> 110 -> 174 -> 155 -> 314
42 -> 92 -> 5 -> 4 -> 2 -> 6 -> 7 -> 13 -> 110 -> 174 -> 155 -> 314
44 -> 59 -> 4 -> 2 -> 6 -> 7 -> 13 -> 110 -> 174 -> 155 -> 314
59 -> 4 -> 2 -> 6 -> 7 -> 13 -> 110 -> 174 -> 155 -> 314
65 -> 7 -> 13 -> 110 -> 174 -> 155 -> 314
69 -> 41 -> 2 -> 6 -> 7 -> 13 -> 110 -> 174 -> 155 -> 314
79 -> 13 -> 110 -> 174 -> 155 -> 314
83 -> 26 -> 6 -> 7 -> 13 -> 110 -> 174 -> 155 -> 314
92 -> 5 -> 4 -> 2 -> 6 -> 7 -> 13 -> 110 -> 174 -> 155 -> 314
99 -> 44 -> 59 -> 4 -> 2 -> 6 -> 7 -> 13 -> 110 -> 174 -> 155 -> 314
314 -> 0
we could also say "Lots of roads lead nowhere". That's a profound proclamation too!