Talk:Alexander Aitken

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[edit] Number of digits of pi

The article says that Alexander Aitken memorized 2000 digits of Pi. Was this performance witnessed and documented in a way that it can be certain or is it just a rumour? In the Pi World Ranking List [[1]] he is listed memorizing "only" 1000 digits of Pi. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 84.158.86.91 (talk • contribs).

One source[2] says 2000 digits, but another[3] says 1000. The latter is the transcript of a radio interview with Aitken. 'Bowden [the interviewer] mentions Aitken’s "extraordinary ability to recite pi to 1000 places"', and it seems Aitken accepted that statement without demurral. So 1000 currently seems more believable to me, although I'll keep looking for something more definite. I've changed the article accordingly. -- Avenue 15:56, 5 March 2007 (UTC)

Hunter (1962, pages 256-258) witnessed and recorded Aitken reciting 1000 digits of pi. -- Avenue 02:26, 30 March 2007 (UTC)