Monte Carlo Approximation of PI

pi_day.py

from random import uniform 
"""
Monte Carlo approximation of PI

Sample run:
    person@pc-1 ~/> python pi_day.py 
    approximation of PI: 3.1427
"""

def generatePoints():
    x = uniform(-1,1)
    y = uniform(-1,1)
    return (x,y)

def approx_pi(N):
    points = [ generatePoints() for x in range(N) ]
    indisc = [ x*x + y*y < 1 for x,y in points ]
    return 4 * sum(indisc)/float(N)

if __name__ == "__main__":
    N = 100000
    print "approximation of PI: " + str(approx_pi(N))

Happy PI Day!!