SMRTR Science & EngineeringMar 12, 2026Scientific American

How to find pi in randomness all around you

SMRTR summary

Pi can be found through random processes beyond just measuring circles, appearing mysteriously in coin flips, needle drops, and random point generation. Three methods demonstrate this: dropping random points in a square containing a circle estimates pi through area ratios, Buffon's needle experiment involves dropping needles on lined floors where the crossing probability equals 2/π, and a newly discovered technique where coin flips until heads exceed tails by one averages π/4.

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