Originally posted by: Jeff7
A side question about pi:
These supercomputers that calculate pi out to 500 jiggajillion digits, from where do they get their starting data? In theory, you could only measure a circle's diameter and circumference down to the Planck Length, right? Is there some mathy way to derive a formula for this stuff?
for whatever reason, however it is done... the correct value is an infinitely-long digit, due to the nature of the mathematical shape. It's similar to the idea of basic formulas that produce X or Y values closer and closer to 0, but never technically hit zero. With enough horsepower, you can get basically infinite values that are never zero. Just the reason we are so used to the short-hand value, is because, well, for basic classroom purposes, it's pointless to get a more perfect value, when a short-hand value works well enough. It can be advantageous to get a more precise value but computer power is needed to calculate it.
Likely I just said exactly what you know. My math knowledge is limited because beyond Algebraic math, I hate math. Circles are included in maths that I hate. But I felt like continuing the typing, for reasons I do not understand. So, this post stays. And maybe I'll have enlightened someone with less of an understanding than myself.