Name that number.

May 15, 2008 5:36 PM

Sometime in the past two months, I came across a blog entry (I think) which asked for expressions for the "largest finite number" that could be submitted. Intuitively there is no such thing, but the piece toyed around with that idea. If I recall, there were few if any restrictions on the how the expression was written. Sorry I can't be more specific than that. I'm not interested in "all you have to do is add one" replies, only pointers to the site if the general parameters of the question are familiar to anyone
posted by Neiltupper to science & nature (7 comments total)

Was it this?

This talks about Busy Beaver numbers, which are finite, well-defined, and grow at truly mind-boggling rates.
posted by NucleophilicAttack at 5:45 PM on May 15, 2008

Was it this (as seen in mefi)
posted by aubilenon at 5:47 PM on May 15, 2008

Maybe Who Can Name the Bigger Number?

Also potentially of interest: Profs Duke It Out in Big Number Duel
posted by Cucurbit at 5:48 PM on May 15, 2008

Graham's Number?
posted by Geppp at 5:54 PM on May 15, 2008

I remember xkcd played around with this a bit.
posted by cowbellemoo at 5:57 PM on May 15, 2008

there are a few good links in couple of xkcd blag posts: here and here.
posted by quickasfoxes at 5:58 PM on May 15, 2008

!
posted by Neiltupper at 7:24 PM on May 15, 2008