Largest number Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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largest number

[หˆlษ‘หrdส’ษชst หˆnสŒmbษ™r ]

Definitions

Context #1 | Adjective

mathematics

Greatest in size or amount when compared with others of the same kind.

Synonyms

biggest, greatest, highest.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
largest number

Often repeated as it is a specific phrase used in mathematics or when quantifying in various contexts.

  • Please find the largest number in the list
  • What is the largest number of people that attended the event?
biggest

Used to describe the most significant or the most extensive in size, amount, or importance.

  • She bought the biggest cake in the shop
  • Winning the championship was the biggest achievement of his career
highest

Used when referring to the topmost or the uppermost point, usually in terms of position or level.

  • Mount Everest is the highest mountain in the world
  • She scored the highest marks in the exam
greatest

Often used to describe the highest level of excellence or magnitude, typically in a positive and grand sense.

  • He is one of the greatest musicians of all time
  • The greatest challenge we face is climate change

Examples of usage

  • This is the largest number in the set.
  • The largest number in the sequence is 100.
Context #2 | Noun

general

The highest numerical value or quantity that a number or set of numbers can reach.

Synonyms

limit, maximum, peak.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
largest number

Utilize when referring to the biggest numeral within a specific set or context.

  • The largest number in the data set is 95.
  • He always aims to score the largest number of points in every game.
maximum

Best used to specify the greatest amount, value, or degree that is possible or allowed.

  • The maximum capacity of the hall is 300 people.
  • To get the best results, use the product at the maximum setting.
peak

Appropriate when referring to the highest or most important point in a process, experience, or physical structure.

  • The athlete was at his peak during the last Olympics.
  • Sales reached their peak during the holiday season.
limit

Typically used when describing a boundary or the farthest point that something can reach. This word often has a more restrictive connotation.

  • The speed limit on this road is 60 miles per hour.
  • She reached the limit of her patience.

Examples of usage

  • 999 is the largest number you can dial on this phone.
  • The largest number of attendees we can accommodate is 200.

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Interesting Facts

Mathematics

  • In mathematics, there's no 'largest number' because you can always add 1 to any number to get a bigger one.
  • A 'googol' is a very large number, written as 1 followed by 100 zeros, showcasing just how big numbers can get.
  • Even larger is 'googolplex,' defined as 1 followed by a googol of zeros, illustrating extreme scales in number theory.

History

  • The concept of zero, developed by Indian mathematicians, greatly impacted how we understand and express large numbers.
  • In ancient Babylon, the numeral system made it possible to represent large quantities without limits, paving the way for modern mathematics.
  • The largest recorded number used in history comes from a famous mathematician, John Horton Conway, who mentioned 'Graham's number' in relation to combinatorial mathematics.

Pop Culture

  • In the movie 'The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy,' the number 42 is humorously referred to as the answer to the ultimate question of life, representing a play on the search for meaning among 'numbers.'
  • The largest numbers are often used in sci-fi stories to exaggerate size, like referencing planets or distances in the universe.
  • 'Infinity' is a term found in many pop culture references, depicting endlessness beyond any measurable number.

Science

  • In physics, concepts like the 'observable universe' highlight sizes that stretch our definition of what can be counted or measured.
  • Quantum physics introduces uncertainty in measurement, where larger numbers interact in ways that defy our logic.
  • In computer science, the capabilities of processing large numbers are critical in algorithms, especially in cryptography and data security.

Origin of 'largest number'

The concept of the largest number has been a fundamental aspect of mathematics since ancient times. As human understanding of numbers and arithmetic has evolved, the search for the largest number has led to the development of various mathematical theories and concepts. From ancient civilizations to modern mathematicians, the quest to determine the largest number continues to challenge and fascinate scholars around the world.