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10-year-old British boy sets world record by memorising 280 digits of Pi in one minute

A young math enthusiast from Bristol broke a world record by recalling 280 digits of Pi in just 60 seconds.

Published on: Mar 15, 2025, 12:27:46 IST
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A 10-year-old boy from Bristol, Alberto Davila Aragon, has set a new world record for recalling the most decimal places of Pi in just one minute. Aragon memorised and recited an astonishing 280 digits of the mathematical constant, earning a place in the Guinness World Records.

A school competition led a 10-year-old from Bristol to memorise 280 digits of Pi, breaking a world record. (guinnessworldrecords)
A school competition led a 10-year-old from Bristol to memorise 280 digits of Pi, breaking a world record. (guinnessworldrecords)

A school competition sparks an obsession

Aragon’s fascination with Pi began in March 2024 when his school organised a Pi digits competition with an unusual and entertaining reward—pieing the headmaster in the face.

(Also read: Indian athlete Vispy Kharadi sets Guinness World Record for Hercules pillar hold)

“In March 2024, my school organised an exciting Pi digits competition with an amazing prize: the chance to pie our headmaster in the face! Determined to win, I went home and committed myself to memorising as many digits of Pi as I could,” Alberto told Guinness World Records.

His dedication paid off, and he emerged victorious by reciting 150 digits, securing his moment to pie the headmaster.

"It was an exhilarating experience, and I'm grateful to our headmaster for creating such a fun and inspiring challenge that motivated me to test my memory skills," he added.

A record-breaking journey begins

The school competition was just the beginning for Aragon. Encouraged by his achievement, he continued challenging himself, aiming to memorise even more digits at an increasingly faster pace.

When he decided to go for the world record, his parents stepped in to help organise the attempt. They reached out to Bristol University to find a mathematician, local sports clubs for experienced timekeepers, and a professional witness to validate the feat.

"Then, we wanted an iconic location for this record, one that was significant to me," Alberto explained. "From the [Clifton] Observatory, the view of the iconic suspension bridge is amazing—I cross that bridge every day on my journey to school."

(Also read: Indian teen with 'werewolf syndrome' sets Guinness World Record for hairiest face)

A love for learning and a historic achievement

Describing himself as a dedicated student—albeit “a bit chatty” according to his teachers—Aragon continued refining his skills.

His accomplishment aligns perfectly with Pi Day, celebrated annually on 14th March (3/14), a nod to the famous mathematical sequence.

  • Mahipal Singh Chouhan
    ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    Mahipal Singh Chouhan

    Mahipal Singh Chouhan is a Senior Content Producer at Hindustan Times Digital, with nearly five years of experience in digital journalism and content production. He primarily covers offbeat, trending and human-interest stories, with a focus on emerging social media trends, online conversations and real-world incidents that capture public attention. At Hindustan Times, Mahipal works on identifying and developing fast-moving digital stories, adding context and journalistic perspective to viral moments while maintaining accuracy, clarity and readability for online audiences. Before joining Hindustan Times Digital, he was associated with DNA India, where he gained experience in newsroom workflows and digital storytelling. He holds a degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the Vivekananda Institute of Professional Studies, Delhi. Beyond journalism, he has a keen interest in history and sports and enjoys expanding his general knowledge.Read More

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