Bibliograph

The biggest number in the world, a journey to the edge of mathematics, David Darling & Agnijo Banerjee

Type

Label

The biggest number in the world, a journey to the edge of mathematics, David Darling & Agnijo Banerjee

Language

eng

Bibliography note

Includes bibliographical references (pages 229-230, 233-240)

Illustrations

illustrations

Index

no index present

Literary Form

non fiction

Main title

The biggest number in the world

Nature of contents

bibliography

Oclc number

1264138677

Responsibility statement

David Darling & Agnijo Banerjee

Sub title

a journey to the edge of mathematics

Summary

"We all know that numbers go on forever, that you could spend your life counting and never reach the end of the line, so there can't be such a thing as a 'biggest number.' Or can there? To find out, David Darling and Agnijo Banerjee embark on an epic quest, revealing the answers to questions like: are there more grains of sand on Earth or stars in the universe? Is there enough paper on Earth to write out the digits of a googolplex? And what is a googolplex? Then things get serious. Enter the strange realm between the finite and the infinite, and float through a universe where the rules we cling to no longer apply. Encounter the highest number computable and infinite kinds of infinity. At every turn, a cast of wild and wonderful characters threatens the status quo with their ideas, and each time the numbers get larger."--, From back cover

Table Of Contents

Of sand and stars -- At the limits of reality -- Maths unbound -- Up, up and away -- G whizz -- Conway's chains -- Ackermann and the power of recursion -- Figure this-If you can -- Infinite matters -- Growing fast -- Does not compute! -- The strange world of the googolist -- Bridge to beyond -- The biggest number of all

Classification