[Gathnet] Converting Pi to binary: DON'T DO IT!

[Stuart D. Gathman]

On Thu, 29 Jul 2004, Stuart D. Gathman wrote:

> The same warning applies to e, the square root of 2, Euler's constant, Phi,
> the cosine of any non-zero algebraic number, and the vast majority of all
> other real numbers.

Before someone else nitpicks, note that the conjecture only applies to
transcendental numbers (ordinary irrationals certainly do not contain all
strings although they never repeat).  Of all known transcendentals, Pi has the
highest entropy, and might be unique in containing all strings in its
expansion.

> There's a reason why these numbers are always computed and shown in decimal,
> after all.

Computing in decimal won't protect you legally.  Using a different code
is no excuse for copyright infringement.

-- 
	      Stuart D. Gathman <stuart at bmsi.com>
Business Management Systems Inc.  Phone: 703 591-0911 Fax: 703 591-6154
"Confutatis maledictis, flamis acribus addictis" - background song for
a Microsoft sponsored "Where do you want to go from here?" commercial.