# Make a Plain PIE!

(2 Jan 2018) Because of the winning criteria I am going to accept the Jelly answer, but I am also giving upvotes to all other answers which all use astounding methods as well

## Introduction

There are lots of challenges asking for a shortest program to calculate mathematical constants. I saw some with restrictions like banning the literals 3.14 and π etc. However, there seems no such challenges using the number of distinct characters as one of the criteria.

## The Challenge

Make a Plain PIE using the fewest kinds and least amount of ingredients but still yummy enough

Write a code that calculates π*e to at least 10 decimal places, that uses as FEW distinct characters (and de facto numeric literal characters) and as short as possible.

This challenge is not banning numeric literals; instead they are discouraged. Numeric literals are seasonings ;)

## Requirements

• The code must be a full program receiving no inputs and outputting the result, or a function which can be called with no arguments either outputting or returning the result. Lambdas are allowed.
• The result must start with 8.5397342226 and must be in a numeric type. There should only be one output/return in the main program/function. Sub-functions are allowed.

## Restrictions

• String-to-number conversion functions that trivially turn the string literal to a number it represents are not allowed unless explicitly declared and implemented within the code. Also, NO implicit conversions from strings to numbers.
• eg. eval, Number(), parseInt() and "string" * 1
• Character-code functions and length functions like ord, String.charCodeAt(n) and String.length are allowed because they do not trivially convert the string into the corresponding number.
• Use of the following built-ins are not allowed:
• Mathematical constants, or any built-in functions that evaluates to those constants directly
• eg. Math.PI in JS, žs in 05AB1E (because it evaluates to π directly)
• Trigonometric functions and the exponential function, unless explicitly defined and implemented in the code.
• eg. Math.atan and Math.exp in JS
• Built-in power functions and exponentiation operators (eg. ** or ^) are allowed, given that they receive 2 arguments/operands (WLOG a and b) and returns ab
• The length of each run of numeric literal used must not be longer than 5 (eg. 12345 allowed (but not encouraged), but 123456 is not allowed).
• Standard loopholes apply.

## Scoring

• The scoring is divided into three parts:
• Distinctness: Scored by counting the number of distinct characters used. Uppercase and lowercase are counted separately. However, the following characters must each be counted as 10 characters:
• Hexadecimal digits: 0123456789abcdefABCDEF
• Decimal points: .
• Any other single characters that may be used as numeric literals (applicable in golfing languages)
• Size: Scored by the length of the code in bytes.
• Accuracy: Scored by the number of correct digits counting from the decimal point. Any digits after the first wrong digit are not counted. For fairness, a maximum of 15 digits are counted. The value of π*e according to WolframAlpha is 8.539734222673567(06546...).
• The total score is calculated by (Distinctness * Size) / Accuracy

## Winning Criteria

The answer with the lowest score wins. If tied then the candidate answer which is posted earlier wins.

For non-golfing languages, the score can be calculated using the following snippet (For some golfing languages, the snippet does not work since this checks for UTF-8 length of the code only):

$(document).ready(() => {$("#calculate").on("click", () => {
var count = {};
var distinct = 0;
var nonnums = 0;
var numerals = 0;
var length = 0;
for (const c of [...$("#code").val()]) { count[c]++; if (c.charCodeAt(0) <= 0x7F) length += 1; else if (c.charCodeAt(0) <= 0x3FF) length += 2; else if (c.charCodeAt(0) >= 0xD800 && c.charCodeAt(0) <= 0xDFFF) length += 4; else length += 3; } for (const c in count) { if ("0123456789abcdefABCDEF.".indexOf(c) == -1) { nonnums += 1; distinct += 1; } else { numerals += 1; distinct += 10; } } var output =$("#output").val();
var match = /^8\.(5397342226(7(3(5(67?)?)?)?)?)/.exec(output);
if (match == null)
$("#result").html("The result does not have 10-digit accuracy!"); else { var accuracy = match[1].length;$("#result").html(
Size        : ${length} bytes<br> Distinctness:${distinct} (Numerals: ${numerals}, Non-numerals:${nonnums})<br>
Accuracy    : ${accuracy} decimal places<br> Score :${(distinct * length / accuracy).toFixed(2)}
);
}
});
});
<script src="https://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jquery/2.1.1/jquery.min.js"></script>
<h2>Calculator for Non-esoteric Programming Languages (BASIC-like, C-like, Python, Ruby, etc.)</h2>
Code: <br><textarea cols=50 rows=10 id="code"></textarea><br>
Output: <input id="output"><br>
<input type="button" id="calculate" value="Calculate Score">
<pre id="result"></pre>

Submission

# JavaScript(ES6), S=141, D=49, A=12, 575.75pt

(t=()=>{for(f=o=9/9;++o<9999;)f+=o**-(9>>9/9);return (f*(9*9+9))**(9/9/(9>>9/9))},u=()=>{for(f=o=r=9/9;++o<99;){f+=r;r/=o}return f})=>t()*u()


Output: 8.53973422267302

Scoring

Size        : 141 bytes
Distinctness: 49 (Numerals: 3 (use of "9", "e" and "f")), Non-numerals: 19)
Accuracy    : 12 decimal places
Score       : 575.75

• code-challenge because code-golf is specifically for challenges where the sole scoring consideration is number of bytes for the interpreter to obtain the desired result. – HyperNeutrino Dec 16 '17 at 2:32
• @HyperNeutrino Thank you for the reminder, the clarification and the edit ;) – Shieru Asakoto Dec 16 '17 at 2:42
• What exactly do you mean by "must be a numerical type"? Also, this prevents certain languages from participating so I'd recommend you consider removing that (somewhat vague) restriction. – HyperNeutrino Dec 16 '17 at 2:58
• @HyperNeutrino I would say the phrase is to prevent codes which output of the string "8.5397342226..." directly (especially output digit by digit). I am expecting the calculation of the value. – Shieru Asakoto Dec 16 '17 at 3:07
• Your question should include the actual value of πe to 15 digits. – Lynn Dec 16 '17 at 14:44

# Jelly, 11 × 38 ÷ 10 = 41.8

“Þẹjuụ’÷ȷ10


Try it online!

# Explanation

“Þẹjuụ’÷ȷ10  Main Link
“Þẹjuụ’      85397342226
÷     Divided by
ȷ10  1e10

• Since ȷ can be used as 1000 if used separately, I will count it as a single-character numeric literal :) – Shieru Asakoto Dec 16 '17 at 2:44
• BTW “ seems to mark a string literal. The answer is invalid if built-in or implicit string-to-number conversion is used as per restrictions. – Shieru Asakoto Dec 16 '17 at 2:47
• @user71546 Is built-in integer compression forbidden then? That should be specified separately because in this case “ denotes a number literal, not a string literal. – HyperNeutrino Dec 16 '17 at 2:51
• 11 × 101 ÷ 10 = 111.1. Works in binary too! – JungHwan Min Dec 16 '17 at 2:53
• @JungHwanMin Hm interesting! I wonder, does that work for the general case? I'd think so but I'm not sure. – HyperNeutrino Dec 16 '17 at 2:53

# Mathematica, (18*226)/15 = 271

only 1s

N[1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1/(1+1/(1+1/(1+1+1+1+1+1/(1+1/(1+1+1+1/(1+1/(1+1+1+1+1/(1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1/(1+1+1+1/(1+1+1/(1+1/(1+1+1+1+1+1/(1+1+1/(1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1/(1+1/(1+1)))))))))))))))),1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1]


# Mathematica, 244

1s & 2s

N[2+2+2+2+1/(1+1/(1+1/(1+2+2+1/(1+1/(1+2+1/(1+1/(2+2+1/(12+1/(1+2+1/(2+1/(1+1/(1+2+2+1/(2+1/(12+1/(1+1/(1+1)))))))))))))))),12+2+2]

• WOW, only 1s and 6s. btw the parentheses surrouding 6-1 can be removed for -4 bytes – Shieru Asakoto Dec 16 '17 at 4:44
• updated. only 1s – J42161217 Dec 16 '17 at 4:52
• Quick explanation: Continued fraction approach. – user202729 Dec 16 '17 at 4:52
• you people are mind-meltingly clever!!! it makes me angry at myself!! – Big T Larrity Dec 16 '17 at 12:24
• For what it’s worth, this translates to 1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1÷1+1÷1+1÷1+1+1+1+1+1÷1+1÷1+1+1+1÷1+1÷1+1+1+1+1÷1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1÷1+1+1+1÷1+1+1÷1+1÷1+1+1+1+1+1÷1+1+1÷1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1÷1+1÷1+1 in APL, scoring 12×159÷15 = 127.2 points. – Lynn Dec 16 '17 at 13:49

# Mathematica, 257.6

N[2Integrate[Sqrt[1-n^2],{n,-1,1}],22]Sum[1/n!,{n,0,22}]


Try it online!

# Mathematica, 276

this is accurate to 4095 digits

N[2Integrate[Sqrt[1-n^2],{n,-1,1}],2^12]Sum[1/n!,{n,0,2^12}]


Try it online!

• Would it save any points to replace 1/n! with n!^-1? – numbermaniac Dec 16 '17 at 12:03
• no... it is (69*60)/15=276 (this one) vs (68*61)/15=276.533 (yours) – J42161217 Dec 16 '17 at 12:17

# Imperative Tampio, 2206.46

K:lla on h:t.K:n z on riippuen siitä,onko sen h:iden määrä nolla,joko nolla tai sen ensimmäinen h lisättynä uuden K:n,jonka h:t ovat sen h:t toisesta alkaen eikä muuta,z:aan jaettuna kymmenellä.Kun iso sivu avautuu,se näyttää uuden K:n,jonka h:ita ovat kolme lisättynä viiteen,viisi,kolme,neljä lisättynä viiteen,7,kolme,neljä,kaksi,kaksi,kaksi,kuusi,7,kolme,viisi ja 7 eikä muuta,z:n.


K:lla on h:t.K:n z on riippuen siitä,onko sen h:iden määrä nolla,joko nolla tai sen ensimmäinen h lisättynä uuden K:n,jonka h:t ovat sen h:t toisesta alkaen eikä muuta,z:aan jaettuna kymmenellä.Kun iso sivu avautuu,se näyttää uuden K:n,jonka h:ita ovat kolme lisättynä viiteen,viisi,kolme,neljä lisättynä viiteen,7,kolme,neljä,kaksi,kaksi,kaksi,kuusi,7,kolme,viisi ja 7 eikä muuta,z:n.

Online version

Tampio has an advantage that number literals can be written using letters instead of digits. I also noticed that the interpreter thinks that one-letter words are nouns, so I can use them as identifiers. Of course, this language is so verbose that it won't help it to win any challenge.

Ungolfed:

Listalla on alkiot.

Listan lukuarvo on riippuen siitä, onko sen alkioiden määrä nolla,

• joko nolla
• tai sen ensimmäinen alkio lisättynä uuden listan, jonka alkiot ovat sen alkiot toisesta alkaen eikä muuta, lukuarvoon jaettuna kymmenellä.

Kun nykyinen sivu avautuu,

• se näyttää uuden listan, jonka alkioita ovat 8,5,3,9,7,3,4,2,2,2,6,7,3,5 ja 7 eikä muuta, lukuarvon.

# APL, 6×124÷15 = 49.6 points

zz+zz+zz+zz+÷z+÷z+÷z+zz+zz+÷z+÷z+zz+÷z+÷zz+zz+÷zz+zz+zz+zz+zz+zz+÷z+zz+÷zz+÷z+÷z+zz+zz+÷zz+÷zz+zz+zz+zz+zz+zz+÷z+÷zz←z+z←⍴⍴⍬


Try it online! (Paste in the code then hit Ctrl+Enter.)

Assigns 1 to z, then abbreviates z+z to zz, and then approximates the continued fraction of πe as 8+1/(1+1/(1+1/(5+1/(1+1/(3+1/(1+1/(4+1/(10+1/(3+1/(2+1/(1+1/(5+1/(2+1/(12+1/(1+1/2))))))))))))))) (inspired by Jenny_mathy’s Mathematica answer).

1 is computed as ⍴⍴⍬: the dimensions vector (1) of the dimensions vector (0) of the empty vector (⍬).

Because of APL’s ÷ reciprocal operator and right-to-left grouping rules, this representation doesn’t even need parentheses. We use 6 distinct non-numeric symbols: z+÷←⍴⍬

This code should work in any APL dialect; the only important thing is that there is one where

• the answer is printed to 15 figures by default;
• the glyphs are encoded as one byte each (i.e. source code is in some custom APL codepage, not UTF-8).

Graham reports that APL+Win fits the bill.

• Well, this works in Dyalog APL which TIO supports! (note how I put ⎕← to show the output, don't count that) – Erik the Outgolfer Dec 16 '17 at 14:25
• Also, can you please specify what APL dialect you're using? If you're using Dyalog, then you have a precision of 9 decimals, not 15. If you're using ngn/apl, then you should count the bytes in Unicode. – Erik the Outgolfer Dec 16 '17 at 14:35
• Hm… There are enough APL implementations out there that I’d expect one of them to support both an APL SBCS and 15-digit precision by default. I’ll wait for Adám to chime in! – Lynn Dec 16 '17 at 14:58
• This works in my APL+WIN which is not Unicode and produces the answer 8.539734222673568 – Graham Dec 16 '17 at 17:18
• Further to the above I would be surprised if the precision in Dyalog is limited to 9 decimals. In APL+WIN it is controlled via ⎕PP which by default is 10 but can be set up to 17. In APLX again the default is 10 max 15. – Graham Dec 17 '17 at 15:02

# Swift, 116 * 39 / 14 ≈ 323.14 114 * 39 / 14 ≈ 317.57

print(2+2+2+2+1/(1+1/(1+1/(2+2+1+1/(1+1/(2+1+1/(1+1/(2+2+1/(12+1/(2+1+1/(2+1/(1+1/(2+2+1+1/(2+1/12.2))))))))))))))


Try it online!

Uses a continued fraction to approximate π*e to 14 decimal places

# Pyt, 22*73/11=14622*72/11=14423*53/11 22*39/11=78

1⁺1⁺⁺⁺⁺⁺^ř⁻Đ!⇹1⁺*⁺‼/Ʃ1⁺*1⁺⁺1⁺⁺⁺⁺*ř⁻!⅟Ʃ*


Uses approximations for π and e, respectively.

Per the codepage (which is in the interpreter2 file), each character is one byte.

Explanation (stuff in brackets is what is used from the stack):

1⁺1⁺⁺⁺⁺⁺^ř⁻Đ!⇹1⁺*⁺‼/Ʃ1⁺*           makes π

1⁺1⁺⁺⁺⁺⁺^         makes 64
(64)ř             makes a list [1,2,...,64]
([1,...,64])⁻     subtracts one from each element in the list
([0,...,63])Đ     duplicates list (on top of stack twice)
([0,...,63])!     performs element-wise factorial
([...],[...])⇹    swaps top two items on the stack
([...])1⁺*⁺       doubles all values in list and adds one
([...])‼          element-wise double factorial
([...],[...])/    divides element-wise
([...])Ʃ          sums all elements in the list (approximately π/2)
(π/2)1⁺*          doubles (yields π)

1⁺⁺1⁺⁺⁺⁺*ř⁻!⅟Ʃ

1⁺⁺1⁺⁺⁺⁺*         makes 15
ř⁻       makes a list [0,1,...,14]
!      Takes the factorial of each element in the list
⅟     Finds the multiplicative inverse of each element
Ʃ    Sums the list (e)

(π,e)*              multiplies
(implicit print)


Try it online!