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Math

Easy as PIe

by Matthew Martinelli

"Is that camera focused on me?" the older man asked.

"Not yet. I'm still checking. Wouldn't want you reaching the end, only to find out I missed the first few minutes and had to start all over."

For this special occasion, Akira Haraguchi, a fifty-nine-year-old mental health counselor, along with Kenji Tushiaro, his office assistant, had rented a public hall in Kisarazu outside of Tokyo. Last September, Akira's attempt had ended prematurely when the time expired at the hosting facility. This time, they rented the hall for three days. If everything went well, they would finish by 8 o'clock that night.

At 8:45 A.M. several news reporters filed into the room. Kenji signaled the video cameras were ready. Without introduction, Akira began his attempt at the world record. "Three point one four one five nine two six five..."

Akira rattled off the first few of the infinite decimal places of pi from memory. Meanwhile, Kenji frantically typed the numbers into a computer. Each correct number Kenji typed flashed a green light on the screen. Akira recited the first 12,000 digits in two hours, taking two breaks while Kenji changed the videotapes. During the third hour, he slowed down, looking slightly confused, his face contorted in pain.

"...three seven four"

He stopped, knowing the red light was flashing on Kenji's computer. He'd said the first 16,242 digits correctly, but erred on the 16,243rd. When Akira stopped, the reporters glanced at the computer. They saw the red light, and a groan swept through the hall. Several reporters began packing their equipment.

Akira wiped the sweat off his face and stood. "Stop! Do not leave. In twenty minutes, I'll start again. I swear I'll get to 80,000 tonight!"

The reporters gasped. In September, he recited over 54,000 places, beating the previous record of 42,195 held by a Japanese student. Eighty thousand seemed near impossible, but the forcefulness in Akira's voice kept the reporters there.

At noon, he renewed his assault on the record. Reciting with passion, he only stopped for a few seconds while Kenji switched videotapes. Once, Akira continued as Kenji stepped away from the computer to switch the tape. A nearby reporter jumped to the computer and entered the digits. The green lights continued to flash.

Akira stopped to drink a sip of water and to take a quick bite of the rice balls that sat on the table. His only other break that night was a five-minute trip to the restroom.
The numbers flew from his lips. At 9:07 P.M. he delivered the 56,221st digit, breaking his old record. The crowd roared. Akira merely raised his hand for silence, and continued his barrage of numbers. He spoke the 80,000th digit at 11:54 P.M. The onlookers cheered; again, Akira silenced them. There was more to come.

At 1:26 A.M. on Saturday, July 2, he stopped at 83,431 decimal places. It had taken him five agonizingly long minutes to get out that last number. He was done. After thirteen hours of reciting the decimal places of pi from memory, he stood and said, "I thank you all for your support." Then, he quietly exited the room, too exhausted to answer questions.

Easy as PIe is based on a true story. On July 1 and July 2, 2005, Akira Haraguchi recited the decimal places of pi from memory. Reports vary on the amount of time Haraguchi needed to complete his recitation.


Matthew Martinelli is a Mathematics and Economics teacher at Vista Murrieta High School. He is married and has two boys aged three and four. His hobby is writing and has written several short stories and is working on a novel.

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