gistfile1.py

#!/usr/bin/python

# ref. discussion in: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=4285531
import random
import math

max1, max2, iterations = 999, 255, 1000
pi_approx = 355/113. - math.pi
fracs1 = sum([[i/float(n) for i in range(n+1)] for n in range(1,max1+1)], [])
fracs2 = sum([[i/float(n) for i in range(n+1)] for n in range(1,max2+1)], [])
def test(fracs):
    r = random.random()
    return len(filter(lambda x: abs(x-r) < pi_approx, fracs)) > 0
print [test(fracs1) for i in range(iterations)].count(True),"/", iterations
print [test(fracs2) for i in range(iterations)].count(True),"/", iterations