The Handy Math Answer Book

American Name British Name Number (in powers of ten)

quattuordecillion — 1045

quindecillion octillion 1048

sexdecillion — 1051

septdecillion nonillion 1054

octodecillion — 1057

novemdecillion decillion 1060

vigintillion — 1063

— undecillion 1066

— duodecillion 1072

— tredecillion 1078

— quattuordecillion 1084

— quindecillion 1090

— sexdecillion 1096

— septendecillion 10102

— octodecillion 10108

— novemdecillion 10114

— vigintillion 10120

centillion — 10303

— centillion 10600

What are non-vanishingand vanishing numbers?

A non-vanishing number means just what the term implies: A quantity that is non-

zero everywhere. For example, in the expression x^4 1, the answer will never be zero

(even when xis zero or a negative number). The answer for the expression x^2 is called

“vanishing” because if x0, the expression’s answer “vanishes” to zero.

What are rational, irrational,and real numbers?
Rational,or fractional, numbers are most often regarded as divisions (or ratios) of
integers. By creating a fraction (dividing one integer by another), a rational number
produces either a number that “ends” or repeats decimals. For example, 1/4 equals the
decimal equivalent of 0.25; 1/3 is equivalent to 0.33333.... Both of these are rational
numbers. (For more information about fractions, see p. 98.)
On the other hand, irrational numbersare all the numbers that can be written as
non-repeating, non-finite (or non-terminating) decimals. Also called non-rational
numbers, they include the decimal equivalent of “pi” (or 3.141592 ...). Finally, if you
put the rational and irrational numbers together, they form the real numbers. Most
74 numbers we use in our everyday lives are real numbers.