What Comes After Decillion? A Guide to Large Numbers
Understanding large numbers can be a daunting task, especially when you venture beyond the familiar thousands, millions, or even billions. One such colossal number that often leaves people puzzled is "decillion." In this article, we'll explore what comes after decillion and introduce you to some of the mind-boggling numbers that follow.
1. Decillion: The Starting Point:
Starting Point
Decillion is a numerical term used to represent the number 1 followed by 33 zeros. Its numerical representation looks like this: 1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000. It's a massive number, but it's just the beginning of the vast landscape of large numbers.
2. What's Next? Undecillion:
After decillion comes undecillion. Undecillion is represented by 1 followed by 36 zeros: 1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000. You can think of it as three additional zeros compared to decillion.
3. Duodecillion and Beyond:
The pattern continues as you move further up the scale of large numbers:
Duodecillion: 1 followed by 39 zeros.
Tredecillion: 1 followed by 42 zeros.
Quattuordecillion: 1 followed by 45 zeros.
Quindecillion: 1 followed by 48 zeros.
Sexdecillion: 1 followed by 51 zeros.
Septendecillion: 1 followed by 54 zeros.
Octodecillion: 1 followed by 57 zeros.
Novemdecillion: 1 followed by 60 zeros.
4. Vigintillion and Beyond:
Vigintillion
The pattern of adding three zeros for each new number continues with vigintillion and beyond:
Vigintillion: 1 followed by 63 zeros.
Unvigintillion: 1 followed by 66 zeros.
Duovigintillion: 1 followed by 69 zeros.
Tresvigintillion: 1 followed by 72 zeros.
This pattern persists with each new set of three zeros, creating a structured numerical system for describing increasingly larger quantities.
5. Beyond the Imaginable:
As you venture further into this numerical territory, you'll encounter countless numbers with names and seemingly endless strings of zeros.
Names for numbers such as "quattuorquadragintillion" (1 followed by 135 zeros) or "quinquagintillion" (1 followed by 153 zeros) can make your head spin. These numbers are used primarily in theoretical mathematics and scientific calculations.
6. Practical Applications:
While these numbers might seem abstract, they do have real-world applications in fields like physics, astronomy, and computer science.
For instance, the estimated number of atoms in the observable universe is on the order of 10^80, which is an example of a number well beyond decillion.
Understanding what comes after decillion involves recognizing the pattern of adding three zeros for each new number. While these numbers may not come up in everyday conversations, they play a crucial role in various scientific and mathematical contexts. They represent the vastness of the universe and the intricacies of numerical exploration.