Number Crunching

[NickFitz]

Does anybody happen to know the largest number ever calculated by a Computer ?

One. It puts lots of them in a row to create the impression of representing bigger numbers; but that's just a matter of interpretation.

[HairyArsedBloke]

No, that's a googol. A googolplex is ten to the power of a googol.

It's impossible to write the number, it has 10^100 digits which is more than the number of atoms in the universe.

Wot, all of 'em.

[VectraMan]

One. It puts lots of them in a row to create the impression of representing bigger numbers; but that's just a matter of interpretation.

Even that is a matter of interpretation. A single digit 1 would be -1 in twos compliment. So actually the largest (highest) number ever calculated by a computer is zero. But the largest in magnitude is -1.

And therefore it follows that no computer has ever calculated anything positive.

[RichardCranium]

And therefore it follows that no computer has ever calculated anything positive.

You're confusing computers in general with Marvin the Paranoid Android.

[AlfredJPruffock]

No, that's a googol. A googolplex is ten to the power of a googol.

It's impossible to write the number, it has 10^100 digits which is more than the number of atoms in the universe.

Interesting - however - you specified a finite number for the number of atoms in the universe - which is fine if you subscribe to the view of the Universe as finite as the Aristotle camp does, even though we cannot be certain just how many atoms exist in the 'Finite' Universe - and to make it all more baffling - how do you classify and quantify the atomic structure of Dark Matter ?

But there is another school of thought which maintains that the Universe is Infinite - and that would imply an infinite number of atoms.

Then along comes Cantor who maintains there are in fact Three Levels of Infintity.

But in an Infinite Universe(s) - an Finite Universe must also exist - its all enough to give one a bit of a headache.


My take ?


Appoximately Infinite - more or less Incalculable.``

Whoops - got to dash - rice puddings getting burnt !

[scotspine]

i suspect he meant the visible universe?

i was interested in how some of cantor's stuff impacted on the riemann hypothesis linky and how mandelbrot's work in the imaginary field could be inducted via cantor into it. i suspect a link between them all and a computer which can handle the production of large primes would help.

[AlfredJPruffock]

i suspect he meant the visible universe?

i was interested in how some of cantor's stuff impacted on the riemann hypothesis linky and how mandelbrot's work in the imaginary field could be inducted via cantor into it. i suspect a link between them all and a computer which can handle the production of large primes would help.

Good point ScotsPine - I tend to view the Universe from a broader EMS spectrum - Infra Red and Microwave being the rage this weather - as pretty as the visible universe(s) are ... but the trouble with Infinity is - well where does it all end ?

Fascinating thought about your Prime Number generator computer concept - or perhaps you have a prototype - could we - dare we ? - calculate the incalculable ?

Find out !

[scotspine]

i'm afraid that even with your perspicacity alf, the incalculable shall remain, for the time being at least, the incalculable. it's a pet hobby of mine [prime number distribution/prediction] and it's almost as elusive as the salmon i'll be chasing tomorrow. had 2 [returned] on monday and hoping for greater things tomorrow.

[AlfredJPruffock]

i'm afraid that even with your perspicacity alf, the incalculable shall remain, for the time being at least, the incalculable. it's a pet hobby of mine [prime number distribution/prediction] and it's almost as elusive as the salmon i'll be chasing tomorrow. had 2 [returned] on monday and hoping for greater things tomorrow.

Aye SP

In the same way that Grey Slates remain - Grey Slates - sadly the incalculable will remain - incalculable.

How did you get on with the Fishing ?

[scotspine]

the fishing was rained off. we were halfway out of town this morning at 5.30 when a text came through saying that the river was in the fields.

off tomorrow again though