4 ms·
Ridiculously Huge Numbers
- xelxebar 5y agoThis series is pretty nifty. It's starting point is the simple, child-like curiosity about big numbers. Numberphile has videos on Graham's Number[1], the insanely larger TREE(3)[2], and even Rayo's Number[3] which might be at the limit of describable large finite numbers. However, this post's series dives into the gory details of how one even encounters such insane large numbers and where large finite numbers touch on deep mathematics. It's fascinating how such a simple starting point can quickly lead into deep questions. I hope you enjoy! [1]:https://yewtu.be/watch?v=XTeJ64KD5cg https://yewtu.be/watch?v=XTeJ64KD5cg [2]:https://yewtu.be/watch?v=3P6DWAwwViU https://yewtu.be/watch?v=3P6DWAwwViU [3]:https://yewtu.be/watch?v=X3l0fPHZja8 https://yewtu.be/watch?v=X3l0fPHZja8
- AnIdiotOnTheNet 5y agoVaguely related, Greg Egan wrote two short stories about ridiculously huge numbers: Luminos and Dark Integers. I recommend them if you're in to Egan's brand of diamond hard sci-fi.
- xelxebar 5y agoVery cool. Thanks for the pointer. Greg Egan is one of my top favorite SF authors, but I hadn't stumbled across those works yet.