A spigot algorithm is an algorithm which generates digits of a quantity one at a time without using or requiring previously computed digits. Amazingly, spigot algorithms are known for both pi and e.
Spigot Algorithm
See also
BBP Formula, Digit-Extraction AlgorithmExplore with Wolfram|Alpha
References
Borwein, J. and Bailey, D. Mathematics by Experiment: Plausible Reasoning in the 21st Century. Wellesley, MA: A K Peters, p. 140, 2003.Referenced on Wolfram|Alpha
Spigot AlgorithmCite this as:
Weisstein, Eric W. "Spigot Algorithm." From MathWorld--A Wolfram Web Resource. https://mathworld.wolfram.com/SpigotAlgorithm.html