Estimating PI without a calculator
04-15-2014, 06:49 PM
Post: #1
 Don Williams Junior Member Posts: 30 Joined: Apr 2014
Estimating PI without a calculator
It seems we don't need RPN.

https://medium.com/the-physics-arxiv-blog/c1eb776193ef

Just grab your pump action shotgun and use the Monte Carlo method.
04-15-2014, 07:57 PM
Post: #2
 Dave Britten Senior Member Posts: 2,063 Joined: Dec 2013
RE: Estimating PI without a calculator
Worked great for exams where calculators weren't permitted. I nearly got expelled/arrested trying to do e^x, though.
04-15-2014, 09:15 PM (This post was last modified: 04-15-2014 09:35 PM by everettr.)
Post: #3
 everettr Member Posts: 60 Joined: Dec 2013
RE: Estimating PI without a calculator
I hear these fellows are working on a follow-up article describing their results for a variation on an old classic. The preliminary title is, "Buffon's Big Bore Blaster".
04-16-2014, 01:07 AM
Post: #4
 davetheguru Junior Member Posts: 28 Joined: Jan 2014
RE: Estimating PI without a calculator
Or if you just have a 4 function simple one...
An reasonably accurate estimate can be done by taking the sequence:
1 1 3 3 5 5
and putting the old division box /---- in the middle (sorry for the poor drawing but this way helps remember to process for some) so that you have:
____
113 / 355 or rather,

355
----
113

to get something like:
3.14159292035 (on my HP50)

On a clear disk, you can seek forever.
04-16-2014, 02:41 AM
Post: #5
 Matt Agajanian Senior Member Posts: 552 Joined: Dec 2013
RE: Estimating PI without a calculator
(04-15-2014 06:49 PM)Don Williams Wrote:  It seems we don't need RPN.

https://medium.com/the-physics-arxiv-blog/c1eb776193ef

Just grab your pump action shotgun and use the Monte Carlo method.

Quite a drastic methodology, wouldn't you say.
04-16-2014, 02:41 AM
Post: #6
 Thomas Klemm Senior Member Posts: 1,541 Joined: Dec 2013
RE: Estimating PI without a calculator
(04-15-2014 06:49 PM)Don Williams Wrote:  It seems we don't need RPN.

Who said we can't do it with RPN?
Code:
00 { 8 Byte Prgm } 01 2 02 STO* ST Z 03 + 04 SQRT 05 STO/ ST Y 06 END

2 ENTER
0

Then just keep hitting the [R/S] key.

Cheers
Thomas
04-16-2014, 02:46 AM
Post: #7
 Thomas Klemm Senior Member Posts: 1,541 Joined: Dec 2013
RE: Estimating PI without a calculator
(04-16-2014 01:07 AM)davetheguru Wrote:  An reasonably accurate estimate can be done by taking the sequence:
1 1 3 3 5 5

For even better accuracy I tried:
1 1 3 3 5 5 7 7

Was disappointed.
04-16-2014, 03:50 AM
Post: #8
 Dave Frederickson Senior Member Posts: 2,118 Joined: Dec 2013
RE: Estimating PI without a calculator
An estimate for pi without a calculator. Using my Memory Recall function I get 3.14, or just 3 if it's been a rough week.
04-16-2014, 04:30 AM
Post: #9
 walter b On Vacation Posts: 1,957 Joined: Dec 2013
RE: Estimating PI without a calculator
(04-15-2014 06:49 PM)Don Williams Wrote:  Just grab your pump action shotgun and use the Monte Carlo method.

Quite appropriate in an area where shotguns are more common than RPN calculators. HP, for the sake of the nation, counteract!
04-16-2014, 04:59 PM
Post: #10
 Katie Wasserman Super Moderator Posts: 635 Joined: Dec 2013
RE: Estimating PI without a calculator
Quote:Then just keep hitting the [R/S] key.

No need to do that. Here's an old thread about Viete's method and a really small, self stopping program.

-katie

04-17-2014, 12:18 AM
Post: #11
 JimP Member Posts: 93 Joined: Apr 2014
RE: Estimating PI without a calculator
(04-16-2014 02:41 AM)Thomas Klemm Wrote:
(04-15-2014 06:49 PM)Don Williams Wrote:  It seems we don't need RPN.

Who said we can't do it with RPN?
Code:
00 { 8 Byte Prgm } 01 2 02 STO* ST Z 03 + 04 SQRT 05 STO/ ST Y 06 END

2 ENTER
0

Then just keep hitting the [R/S] key.

Cheers
Thomas

I'm struggling with the concept of hitting an R/S key (or any other key, for that matter) when the topic is about estimating pi WITHOUT a calculator. Just to be precise, I took my Castell-Novo Duplex 2/83N, aligned the 22 on the C scale with 7 on the D scale, moved the cursor over to the 10 on the D scale, and bold as brass on the C scale was the symbol for pi. So there...
04-17-2014, 05:15 AM
Post: #12
 Thomas Klemm Senior Member Posts: 1,541 Joined: Dec 2013
RE: Estimating PI without a calculator
(04-17-2014 12:18 AM)JimP Wrote:  I took my Castell-Novo Duplex 2/83N

You could drop it multiple times on a cross-walk and count how often it's crossing lines:

04-19-2014, 09:29 PM
Post: #13
 colinh Junior Member Posts: 27 Joined: Mar 2014
RE: Estimating PI without a calculator
(04-17-2014 05:15 AM)Thomas Klemm Wrote:
(04-17-2014 12:18 AM)JimP Wrote:  I took my Castell-Novo Duplex 2/83N

You could drop it multiple times on a cross-walk and count how often it's crossing lines:

That would work with the shotgun too, when you're out of ammo, wouldn't it?
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