>>>>> "Aaron" == Aaron Blosser <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>>>>> wrote the following on Wed, 9 Feb 2000 07:40:37 -0700
Aaron> If we were to calculate the radius of this sphere down to a
Aaron> single atomic width, using some decently expanded version of
Aaron> pi would could come up with an exact number for the volume of
Aaron> the universe.
Aaron> What I'm getting at is that at some point, pi reaches a
Aaron> practical limit at which expanding more decimal points is an
Aaron> abstraction because we could never measure anything large
Aaron> enough for it to be useful. I mean, c'mon! The universe is
Aaron> only so big! :-)
Aaron> Being in a hurry, I don't have the time to figure out how
Aaron> many decimal places that would be...perhaps someone more
Aaron> adventurous would care to give it a go.
Cecil Adams mentioned this in one of his columns a few years ago; you
can find a copy online at:
http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a3_357.html
Cecil's column is intended for the general public, not those trained
in mathematics, so it's a good "everybody can understand" discussion.
Executive summary:
Pi to 35 decimal places lets you compute the circumference of the universe
with an error of less than the radius of a hydrogen atom.
Pi to 39 decimal places lets you compute the circumference of the universe
with an error of less than the radius of the NUCLEUS of a hydrogen atom.
Mike
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