A HISTORY OF PI

Nature 379 p 291 (1996) reports that Yasumasa Kanada at Tokyo University now holds the record for accuracy in the calculation of the value of p . In five days of calculation on a HITAC S-3800/480 computer, Kanada determined the value to 6,442,450,000 decimal places.

For a fascinating history of this competition over the millennia (including the value to the first 10,000 decimal places), you may wish to order A History of p by Petr Beckmann from Mrs. Beckmann at Golem Press, Box 1342, Boulder, CO 80306, for $18 postage paid.

Another $3 will bring you one of her remaining copies of Petr Beckmann's reprint of Fancy Napkin Foldings by Kunda Yakoyama.. The cover recommends that you "Fascinate Your Family and Enchant Your Guests'' with these techniques. Your family and your guests will appreciate this artistry from the past.