September 2nd, 2024

String Theorists Accidentally Find a New Formula for Pi

Physicists Arnab Priya Saha and Aninda Sinha discovered a new formula for calculating pi while researching string theory, enabling faster calculations and connecting mathematical concepts like the Riemann conjecture.

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String Theorists Accidentally Find a New Formula for Pi

Two physicists, Arnab Priya Saha and Aninda Sinha from the Indian Institute of Science, have inadvertently discovered a new formula for calculating pi while researching a unifying theory of fundamental forces in string theory. Their work, published in Physical Review Letters, reveals an infinite number of equations for pi, stemming from their exploration of how strings interact. Historically, pi has been calculated using various methods, including geometric approaches by ancient scholars like Archimedes and infinite series developed in the 15th century by mathematicians such as Madhava. Saha and Sinha's formula generalizes Madhava's series, allowing for faster calculations of pi with fewer terms. For instance, while Madhava's series requires 100 terms to achieve a certain precision, their formula can reach similar accuracy with just four terms when using a specific parameter value. Although their primary goal was not to derive a formula for pi, the discovery highlights the interconnectedness of mathematical concepts, including the zeta function, which relates to the Riemann conjecture. This unexpected finding underscores the potential for new insights in mathematics and physics through interdisciplinary research.

- Physicists discovered a new formula for pi while studying string theory.

- The formula allows for infinitely many equations to calculate pi.

- Saha and Sinha's method is more efficient than historical approaches.

- Their work connects pi calculations to the Riemann conjecture.

- The discovery emphasizes the interdisciplinary nature of scientific research.

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