[OT]Name of a number

[Datt]

Ok. I was figuring something out and the number is 4.08 x 1020 I know that is 408 million trillion. But what exactly is that? I know it goes, million, billion, trillion. But what comes after a trillion? and what comes after that?

In case you are wondering what the number is, it is the distance between the Milky Way galaxy and a new forming galaxy called POX 186.

 

[EricNoah]

Quadrillion, quintillion... here's more

http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mgazilli.html

 

[Femerus the Gnecro]

Ok. I was figuring something out and the number is 4.08 x 1020 I know that is 408 million trillion. But what exactly is that? I know it goes, million, billion, trillion. But what comes after a trillion? and what comes after that?

In case you are wondering what the number is, it is the distance between the Milky Way galaxy and a new forming galaxy called POX 186.

Disclaimer: I have no idea what I'm talking about.

However, I'd be tempted to say that a million trillion would be called a quintillion. 1000 billion is trillion, 1000 trillion might be quadrillion, and 1000 quadrillion sort of linguistically follows to quintillion.

I think.

Maybe.

-F

edit: Oh, well bother. Eric beat me to it, and with researched facts no less! Damn you and your facts Noah!

 

[Datt]

I knew I could find the answer here.

Thanks guys.

 

[Umbran]

Actually, IIRC, the answer may depend upon which side of the Pond you reside. Some of the less-used higher numbers aren't tied down by common conventions between the USA and Great Britain.

 

[jmucchiello]

Actually, IIRC, the answer may depend upon which side of the Pond you reside. Some of the less-used higher numbers aren't tied down by common conventions between the USA and Great Britain.

The 1000 x = y examples above are very US-centric. The British system makes more sense but is less used in financial reporting. A US billion is 10^9 (a thousand millions) whereas a British biliion is 10^12 (A million millions).

Now the real question is 4.08 E 20 whats? What is that number the number of?

 

[Datt]

It is the distance, in miles, between US and the POX 186 galaxy. I was reading about it and they said it was close to us being only 68 million light years. And since a light year is 6 trillion miles, that would make POX 186 408 quintillion miles away.

I think I might drive there next year....

 

[Marius Delphus]

I think I might drive there next year....

When they make a car that can do this, I want one.

 

[Dinkeldog]

Did I miscount, or should it be 40 sextillion 800 quintillion?

 

[Tiberius]

Ok. I was figuring something out and the number is 4.08 x 1020 I know that is 408 million trillion. But what exactly is that? I know it goes, million, billion, trillion. But what comes after a trillion? and what comes after that?

In case you are wondering what the number is, it is the distance between the Milky Way galaxy and a new forming galaxy called POX 186.

After trillion we get (in the US):
quadrillion
quintillion
sextillion
septillion
octillion
nontillion
dectillion
undectillion (I think)
duodectillion
etc.

4.08*10^20 comes out to <does math>: 408,000,000,000,000,000,000 or 408 quintillion.

-Tiberius