David H. Bailey
Encyclopedia
David Harold Bailey is a mathematician
and computer scientist
. He received his B.S. in mathematics from Brigham Young University
in 1972 and his Ph.D. in mathematics from Stanford University
in 1976. He worked for 14 years as a computer scientist
at NASA Ames Research Center
, but since 1998 has been at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
.
Bailey is perhaps best known as a co-author (with Peter Borwein
and Simon Plouffe
) of a 1997 paper that presented a new formula for π
(pi). This Bailey–Borwein–Plouffe formula
permits one to calculate binary or hexadecimal digits of pi beginning at an arbitrary position, by means of a simple algorithm. The formula was discovered by Simon Plouffe
using a computer program written by Bailey. More recently (2001 and 2002), Bailey and Richard Crandall
showed that the existence of this and similar formulas has implications for the long-standing question of "normality" – whether and why the digits of certain mathematical constants (including pi) appear "random" in a particular sense.
Bailey is a long-time collaborator with Jonathan Borwein
(Peter's brother). They are co-authors of numerous papers and three books on experimental mathematics
.
Bailey also does research in numerical analysis
and parallel computing
. He has published studies on the fast Fourier transform
, high-precision arithmetic, and the PSLQ algorithm (used for integer relation detection). He is a co-author of the NAS Benchmarks
, which are used to assess and analyze the performance of parallel scientific computers. He currently is a co-leader (with Robert Lucas of ISI/USC
) of the Sustained Performance, Energy and Resilience (SUPER) Institute, a research consortium to study high-end computer performance, funded by the SciDAC program of the U.S. Department of Energy.
Bailey is a recipient of the Sidney Fernbach award from the IEEE Computer Society
, as well as the Chauvenet Prize and the Hasse Prize from the Mathematical Association of America
. In 2005 he was a finalist for the $100,000 Edge of Computation Science Prize. In 2008 he was a co-recipient of the Gordon Bell Prize
from the Association of Computing Machinery.
In addition to Bailey's technical work in mathematics and computer science, Bailey has written articles on science and religion, emphasizing that the modern theories of geology, biology, physics, astronomy and cosmology must be taken seriously in forming a religious worldview. In particular, he has argued that much of the “creationist” and “intelligent design” literature is not sound scientifically, and in any event is not recommended for those seeking harmony between science and religion. Bailey is the editor of the Science Meets Religion website, a repository of articles and information on issues at the juncture of science and religion. Bailey is affiliated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Mathematician
A mathematician is a person whose primary area of study is the field of mathematics. Mathematicians are concerned with quantity, structure, space, and change....
and computer scientist
Computer scientist
A computer scientist is a scientist who has acquired knowledge of computer science, the study of the theoretical foundations of information and computation and their application in computer systems....
. He received his B.S. in mathematics from Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University is a private university located in Provo, Utah. It is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and is the United States' largest religious university and third-largest private university.Approximately 98% of the university's 34,000 students...
in 1972 and his Ph.D. in mathematics from Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
in 1976. He worked for 14 years as a computer scientist
Computer scientist
A computer scientist is a scientist who has acquired knowledge of computer science, the study of the theoretical foundations of information and computation and their application in computer systems....
at NASA Ames Research Center
NASA Ames Research Center
The Ames Research Center , is one of the United States of America's National Aeronautics and Space Administration 10 major field centers.The centre is located in Moffett Field in California's Silicon Valley, near the high-tech companies, entrepreneurial ventures, universities, and other...
, but since 1998 has been at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
The Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory , is a U.S. Department of Energy national laboratory conducting unclassified scientific research. It is located on the grounds of the University of California, Berkeley, in the Berkeley Hills above the central campus...
.
Bailey is perhaps best known as a co-author (with Peter Borwein
Peter Borwein
Peter Benjamin Borwein is a Canadian mathematicianand a professor at Simon Fraser University. He is known as a co-discoverer of the Bailey-Borwein-Plouffe algorithm for computing π.-First interest in mathematics:...
and Simon Plouffe
Simon Plouffe
Simon Plouffe is a Quebec mathematician born on June 11, 1956 in Saint-Jovite, Quebec. He discovered the formula for the BBP algorithm which permits the computation of the nth binary digit of π, in 1995...
) of a 1997 paper that presented a new formula for π
Pi
' is a mathematical constant that is the ratio of any circle's circumference to its diameter. is approximately equal to 3.14. Many formulae in mathematics, science, and engineering involve , which makes it one of the most important mathematical constants...
(pi). This Bailey–Borwein–Plouffe formula
Bailey–Borwein–Plouffe formula
The Bailey–Borwein–Plouffe formula provides a spigot algorithm for the computation of the nth binary digit of π. This summation formula was discovered in 1995 by Simon Plouffe. The formula is named after the authors of the paper in which the formula was published, David H. Bailey, Peter Borwein,...
permits one to calculate binary or hexadecimal digits of pi beginning at an arbitrary position, by means of a simple algorithm. The formula was discovered by Simon Plouffe
Simon Plouffe
Simon Plouffe is a Quebec mathematician born on June 11, 1956 in Saint-Jovite, Quebec. He discovered the formula for the BBP algorithm which permits the computation of the nth binary digit of π, in 1995...
using a computer program written by Bailey. More recently (2001 and 2002), Bailey and Richard Crandall
Richard Crandall
Richard E. Crandall is an American Physicist and computer scientist who has made contributions to computational number theory.He is most notable for the development of the irrational base discrete weighted transform, an important method of finding very large primes. He has, at various times, been...
showed that the existence of this and similar formulas has implications for the long-standing question of "normality" – whether and why the digits of certain mathematical constants (including pi) appear "random" in a particular sense.
Bailey is a long-time collaborator with Jonathan Borwein
Jonathan Borwein
Jonathan Michael Borwein is a Scottish mathematician who holds an appointment as Laureate Professor of mathematics at the University of Newcastle, Australia. Noted for his prolific and creative work throughout the international mathematical community, he is a close associate of David H...
(Peter's brother). They are co-authors of numerous papers and three books on experimental mathematics
Experimental mathematics
Experimental mathematics is an approach to mathematics in which numerical computation is used to investigate mathematical objects and identify properties and patterns...
.
Bailey also does research in numerical analysis
Numerical analysis
Numerical analysis is the study of algorithms that use numerical approximation for the problems of mathematical analysis ....
and parallel computing
Parallel computing
Parallel computing is a form of computation in which many calculations are carried out simultaneously, operating on the principle that large problems can often be divided into smaller ones, which are then solved concurrently . There are several different forms of parallel computing: bit-level,...
. He has published studies on the fast Fourier transform
Fast Fourier transform
A fast Fourier transform is an efficient algorithm to compute the discrete Fourier transform and its inverse. "The FFT has been called the most important numerical algorithm of our lifetime ." There are many distinct FFT algorithms involving a wide range of mathematics, from simple...
, high-precision arithmetic, and the PSLQ algorithm (used for integer relation detection). He is a co-author of the NAS Benchmarks
NAS benchmarks
The NAS Parallel Benchmarks are a set of benchmarks targeting performance evaluation of highly parallel supercomputers. They are developed and maintained by the NASA Advanced Supercomputing Division based at the NASA Ames Research Center...
, which are used to assess and analyze the performance of parallel scientific computers. He currently is a co-leader (with Robert Lucas of ISI/USC
Information Sciences Institute
The Information Sciences Institute is a research and development unit of the University of Southern California's Viterbi School of Engineering which focuses on computer and communications technology and information processing...
) of the Sustained Performance, Energy and Resilience (SUPER) Institute, a research consortium to study high-end computer performance, funded by the SciDAC program of the U.S. Department of Energy.
Bailey is a recipient of the Sidney Fernbach award from the IEEE Computer Society
IEEE Computer Society
The IEEE Computer Society is a professional society of IEEE. Its purpose and scope is “to advance the theory, practice, and application of computer and information processing science and technology” and the “professional standing of its members.” The CS is the largest of 38 technical societies...
, as well as the Chauvenet Prize and the Hasse Prize from the Mathematical Association of America
Mathematical Association of America
The Mathematical Association of America is a professional society that focuses on mathematics accessible at the undergraduate level. Members include university, college, and high school teachers; graduate and undergraduate students; pure and applied mathematicians; computer scientists;...
. In 2005 he was a finalist for the $100,000 Edge of Computation Science Prize. In 2008 he was a co-recipient of the Gordon Bell Prize
Gordon Bell Prize
The Gordon Bell Prizes are a set of awards awarded by the Association for Computing Machinery in conjunction with the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers each year at the Supercomputing Conference to recognize outstanding achievement in high-performance computing applications...
from the Association of Computing Machinery.
In addition to Bailey's technical work in mathematics and computer science, Bailey has written articles on science and religion, emphasizing that the modern theories of geology, biology, physics, astronomy and cosmology must be taken seriously in forming a religious worldview. In particular, he has argued that much of the “creationist” and “intelligent design” literature is not sound scientifically, and in any event is not recommended for those seeking harmony between science and religion. Bailey is the editor of the Science Meets Religion website, a repository of articles and information on issues at the juncture of science and religion. Bailey is affiliated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.