Swiss researchers have calculated the mathematical constant pi to a new world-record level of exactitude, hitting 62.8tn figures using a supercomputer. The previous world-record pi calculation achieved 50tn figures. Pi represents the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter, with an infinite number of digits following the decimal point. Researchers nevertheless continue to push calculations for the constant – whose first 10 figures are 3.141592653 – ever further using powerful computers. The Swiss team said that the experience they built calculating pi could be applied in other areas such as “RNA analysis, simulations of fluid dynamics and textual analysis”.

Source: The Guardian August 16, 2021 21:33 UTC