Emma Haruka Iwao grew up in Japan and has always been fascinated by computers and the use of Pi. Just recently, she broke the world record for most accurate calculation and most digits in the calculation of Pi. When calculating pi, it is an often sight to see advanced computers working with you, but Emma only used an app that you can download on your phone called "y-cruncher". The world record was held previously by a student Tsukuba at 2.6 trillion digits and was done by a super computer. Emma, with a team from Google and her y-cruncher app, achieved 31,415,926,535,897 digits. The calculations were no simple task, it took 4 months and 180 terabytes of data to complete. Google assisted her throughout this time period.
1. What situation could you possibly need to have trillions of digits of pi?
If NASA needs to land on a new planet and they need to pinpoint exactly how they should land on which part of the planet and how.
2. How super are supercomputers and why couldn't it do as much as the phone app?
I don't think it's the system that matters, but rather the time you want to put in to get the results. I think if the supercomputer put in more time, then the man that held the record previously could've kept it.
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Replies
Good overall but I dod think your questions could be better.
1. It would help when you'd need more accurate messurements of things when using PI. NASA will probably use these trillions of digits to help them make more accurate space crafts and landings.
2. Super computers are only as super as the person controling it.
I agree, NASA and other companies making things can never be too accurate, and using these trillions of digits will ensure their success. 2. I think supercomputers are capable of much more, we just need to equip them with elite humans.
I honestly can not think of a time where you would need to know trillions of digits of pi. I think it was just the timing of when the previous record holder had broke the record is why they are no longer the record holder.
I think the previous record holder could've done a lot more if he had put in as much time as the woman who used the app, I think the guy would've still had the record, but I'm sure that the guy doesn't really care that much since he didn't put much time in.
I can't think of a situation where trillions of digits of pi would be needed. That number is so unbelievably high that it is really too big for anything. Supercomputers were made to do work like this, but it also depends on how willing the person who is running it is to put in time. Emma had help from the phone app and google, and they worked for four months on it which is why they were able to get more digits.
I agree, I think if they used a super computer they could make their results even more ridiculous if that's what they were going for. Maybe in the near future they will find ways to use trillions of digits of pi.
I don't think there is any possible reason why we would need to know so many digits for pi but... thanks, I guess, Emma... However, this does go to show how amazing modern day technology is. Don't get me wrong, I am FAR from being a tech whiz, but knowing that we are still evolving in technical advancements today makes me excited for what's to come in the future.
I think the human race and their ingenuity can possibly find some kind of explanation for so many digits and why we need them. I agree that supercomputers go to show what we can do in the future, and that's why I think trillions of digits of pi can find ways to be useful soon.
I don't think that there's any apparent reason to calucate pi to the trillions. Of course, its an exemplry skill to have, and beating out a super computer with just an app shows it. Super computers are smarter than most humans, but humans WITH computers can achieve great things. They cannot be as good as they could be together, which is why I think Lwao beat the computer with the app.
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