googol
Noun: 1. A very large number: A googol is the cardinal number represented by the numeral 1 followed by 100 zeros. It is mathematically equivalent to 10 raised to the power of 100 (10¹⁰⁰).
The word "googol" is used primarily in mathematics and popular science to denote an extremely large, finite quantity. It serves as a conceptual benchmark for vastness. - It is a countable noun. - It is typically used in singular form.
- The number of possible chess games is estimated to be far greater than a googol.
- A googol is so large that the number of atoms in the observable universe is much smaller.
- He tried to explain the concept of a googol to the students by writing out all the zeros.
- "Googolplex": A much larger number defined as 10 raised to the power of a googol (10^(googol) or 10^(10¹⁰⁰)). This is an even more abstract concept of immensity.
- The term is often used in discussions about combinatorics, probability, and the limits of physical quantities.
- Googolplex (noun): The number 10^(googol), or 1 followed by a googol of zeros.
- Ten duotrigintillion: This is the name for 10¹⁰⁰ in the American system of naming large numbers.
- Extremely large number: A general descriptive phrase.
The term "googol" was coined in 1938 by Milton Sirotta, the nine-year-old nephew of American mathematician Edward Kasner. It is important to distinguish it from the homophonous company name "Google," which was inspired by this mathematical term. The word specifically refers to a precise, defined quantity, not just to any large, indefinite amount.
- a cardinal number represented as 1 followed by 100 zeros (ten raised to the power of a hundred)