The Fed says this is a cube of $1M. They're off by half a million (calvin.sh)

Article summary

The Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago's Money Museum displays a transparent cube filled with stacks of $1 bills, claiming to contain $1,000,000. However, the author of the article counted the stacks and found that the cube actually contains $1,550,400. The author created a tool, Dot Counter, to help with the counting. The discrepancy may be due to the cube's dimensions being incorrect or the stacks not being packed solidly all the way through.

Main themes

• currency counting
• mathematical discrepancies
• tool development
• industry applications
• language semantics
• speculation about the cube's contents

What commenters say

• Some commenters suggested that existing apps can already count objects in images, making the author's tool unnecessary.
• Others defended the pricing of a professional counting app, citing its importance and accuracy for industry use.
• A few commenters speculated about the possibility of the cube being hollow or containing non-currency items.
• There were differing opinions on whether the term 'shortfall' accurately described the situation, with some arguing it implies a deficiency rather than an excess.
• Some commenters proposed alternative methods for counting the stacks, such as using machine learning algorithms or estimating packing ratios.
• A few people questioned the authenticity of the currency in the cube, suggesting it may be destroyed or fake.
• The idea of a 'money shell' or decorative cube was also discussed, with some finding it plausible given the cube's construction.