Two Dollars And Fifty Six Cents

The reward from DonaldKnuth for the first discovery of a significant error in TheArtOfComputerProgramming.

Knuth has written many such checks; the vast majority of them have never been cashed. (Instead, they occupy scrapbooks, and reportedly more than a few have been framed and placed on a wall).

Anyone have a check (from DonaldKnuth) for $2.56?


To be precise, I think he doubles his reward every time a bug is found in one of his opuses (TAOCP or TeX). For Tex, I think the "bounty" is up to $10.24.

So, does that mean if I find 22 more bugs, I'll receive a check from Knuth for $42,949,672.95? That one I might cash...though I suspect it would bounce - being a college professer doesn't pay that well...

Knuth is not just a college professor ...


I seem to recall that the bounty tops out at 2**15 cents.


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