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Quadrillion Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

๐Ÿ”ข
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quadrillion

[kwษ’หˆdrษชl.jษ™n ]

Definition

Context #1 | Noun

number scale

A quadrillion is a numerical value equal to one thousand trillion, or 10^15. It is used primarily in the context of large quantities and is the fourth number in the short scale system. In scientific notation, a quadrillion can also be represented as 1.0 x 10^15. The term is often encountered in fields such as finance, data measurement, and scientific calculations.

Synonyms

10^15, one thousand trillion.

Examples of usage

  • The national debt exceeds twenty quadrillion dollars.
  • There are only a quadrillion stars in the observable universe.
  • He calculated that the data collected would amount to a quadrillion bytes.

Translations

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

Interesting Facts

Mathematics

  • In the short scale (used in the US), one quadrillion equals a thousand trillion, while in the long scale (used in some European countries), it represents a million billion.
  • In mathematics, numbers like quadrillion are significant in data science and economics, helping represent large sets of data or currency.

Economics

  • The global economy has reached trillions of dollars in GDP, making quadrillions a useful term when discussing estimates for future global market sizes.
  • Debt figures for countries can reach into the quadrillion range when considering collective obligations worldwide.

Astronomy

  • Estimates suggest there are quadrillions of stars in the universe, highlighting the vastness of space and the limits of human understanding.
  • In astrophysics, quadrillion kilometers can describe distances between stars and galaxies, emphasizing how small Earth's bounds are.

Pop Culture

  • Movies and video games often use hyperbolic numbers like quadrillion to describe treasure or resources, lending a sense of grandeur and exaggeration.
  • In comics and sci-fi, characters may have powers described by quadrillions, stretching the imagination of whatโ€™s possible in their worlds.

Origin of 'quadrillion'

Main points about word origin

  • The term comes from the French word 'quadrillion', which combines the Latin root 'quadri-' meaning four and 'illion', as seen in million and billion.
  • It was first used in the 17th century as part of a system to name large numbers, showing how humans have tried to label beyond what we can easily count.

The term 'quadrillion' is derived from the French word 'quadrillion', which itself comes from the Latin prefix 'quadri-', meaning 'four', combined with the suffix '-illion' used in the naming of large numbers. 'Quadrillion' made its first known appearance in the early 17th century, advancing from its Latin roots through its use in European mathematics. Over time, the definition evolved in accordance with advancements in numeric representation and the need to describe extraordinarily large numbers, especially with the advent of modern finance and science. The word reflects the shift in numeric understanding as societies began to quantify larger quantities, particularly in commerce and research, leading to its current usage today.

Word Frequency Rank

This word's position of #34,845 indicates it's among the more rare English words. While understanding it broadens your vocabulary, focus on more common words first.