More formally, is there any property of Pi (assuming an infinite level of precision) that means it must contain any (possibly infinite) sequence of digits. For example, does it (by it's nature) contain the sequence 123.

Pi in fact DOES contain the sequence 123 (see 10000 Digits of Pi) but that's not the point! Can we prove that a non-random number must contain it.

After much arguing about the interaction between probability theory and infinity, trancendental numbers entropy and other related concepts, we seem to have agreed (between a Maths major, a Computer Science major and an Archaeoloy major ;) that it can't be concluded from the obvious properties of Pi, but we didn't rule out that a rigerous attack of the various Pi algorithms might in fact be able to prove otherwise.

Google and Wikipedia haven't shed any further light on the subject - can anyone comment further? (Note to self: get Dad to read this blog entry).

Clarification: We are of course dealing with Pi in decimal form. And yes, it is a stupid question that is of interest purely because of our human interest in patterns and order!

Image courtesy of xkcd A webcomic of romance, sarcasm, math, and language.

First up is a keynote presentation by Larry Augustine at the Opensource Business conference titled "The next wave of Opensource: Applications".

It's an engaging keynote looking at the opensource implications for delivering major business apps (like CRM) to middle tier business.

Next is a discussion with Jeffrey Rayport - Harvard Business School's first e-commerce professor - talking about focussing on customer experience, how it impacts profitability and how technology might be involved in that.

The slightly amusing thing (for Australian viewers) is listening to Rayport talking to "Moira" about TV shopping :) It's a great discussion with big numbers and radical ideas, that are already happening.

Both podcasts come from IT Conversations.com (homepage currently sporting a post-affro Malcom Gladwell - I guess he got sick of it catching on fire).