Suspiciously precise floats, or, how I got Claude's real limits

https://she-llac.com/claude-limits

Comments

zahlmanJan 25, 2026, 7:42 PM
Neat analysis.

Although noticing the repeated pattern of a multiple of 9 in the fraction 0.16327272727272726 naturally suggests multiplying by 11, and then we get the much simpler value 1.796, at which point it's much easier to continue. I wouldn't have broken out a general analysis method for this, although it's neat to know that they exist.

alyxyaJan 26, 2026, 12:14 AM
I think the standard way to convert repeating decimals or decimals that appear to have a certain repeating pattern to fractions is to take the first repeating period and divide by 0.999.. with the number of 9s matching the period length. 0.163272727.. = 0.163+0.00027/0.99 = 163/1000+27/99000 = 449/2750