The Square Root of 2

A curious blend of mathematics and community spirit, this work opens with a surprising request from readers who asked for a high‑precision expansion of a classic irrational number. The author answers by detailing the meticulous process of calculating the square root of 2 to millions of digits, using sophisticated multiple‑precision arithmetic routines on a Convex C240 computer. Along the way, the narrative explains how a base‑10000 system simplifies the conversion to decimal form, and it shares the staggering computational time required to achieve the result.

Beyond the raw numbers, the book offers an intimate look at the collaborative nature of early‑1990s digital projects, where enthusiasts rallied around the challenge of extending famous constants like π. Listeners will appreciate the blend of technical insight, personal dedication, and the quiet excitement of pushing the limits of what computers could achieve at the time. It’s a concise, yet engaging, snapshot of a niche but fascinating episode in computational history.