DocumentCode
1306981
Title
The ENIAC´s 1949 Determination of π
Author
Shelburne, Brian J.
Author_Institution
Wittenberg University
Volume
34
Issue
3
fYear
2012
Firstpage
44
Lastpage
54
Abstract
In January 1950, George W. Reitwiesner published an article describing the first use of a computer, the ENIAC, to calculate the decimal expansion of π. Starting with Reitwiesner´s description of the calculation, the ENIAC´s architecture, how it was programmed, and the mathematics used, this article examines why the calculation was undertaken, how it was done, and what was subsequently learned.
Keywords
general purpose computers; π decimal expansion; ENIAC architecture; general-purpose computer; Computational modeling; Encoding; History; Mathematics; Monte Carlo methods; Programming; Transmitters; Computational modeling; Computers; ENIAC; ENIAC architecture; Encoding; George W. Reitwiesner; History; John von Neumann; Mathematics; Monte Carlo methods; Programming; Transmitters; determination of π; early mathematical applications of computers; general purpose computers; general-purpose computer; history of computing; theoretical mathematics; ¿ decimal expansion;
fLanguage
English
Journal_Title
Annals of the History of Computing, IEEE
Publisher
ieee
ISSN
1058-6180
Type
jour
DOI
10.1109/MAHC.2011.61
Filename
5999630
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