When is the last number in time?

It’s a short study. Not the last number. Trying to imagine the particulars of the last number is mind boggling. There’s almost no way of knowing how long it would take to pronounce it much less write it down. Seems like a good idea to write it down. Wouldn’t want to accidentally forget it, after all the trouble of finding it. However, pronouncing it, that is an interesting thought. It takes time to say a number out loud. For example 989,578,976,932,825 takes approximately 6.7654 seconds to pronounce.

That isn’t a rigid experiment with set parameters. That is using a watch as the timer. Yet it becomes clear that it takes a little time to properly pronounce a large number. When we first began to question the existence of the last number it was just that. A question of its existence. It’s difficult to imagine finding the very last number. However that might pale in comparison to being able to pronounce it, in a reasonable amount of time.

And once again time becomes a part of the equation. Or at the very least it becomes a stipulation for resolving the name of the last number. It takes time to read a poem. It also takes time to recite a verse. With this in mind, the number game is very similar. It takes time to work an equation. Likewise, it takes time to write and pronounce, a number. Especially a number so large it hasn’t been found. Yet.

When Is The Last Number

It is likely safe to say that the second to last number hasn’t happened either. It stands to reason the attributes of the last number would be a close match to the second to last number. In other words, it would take effort and time, just to pronounce it. Furthermore, it’s possible that by then, it would take the assistance of machines to, not only discover it, but also write it down. Eventually someone, or some program, will finally get it written down.

Maybe. It would definitely mean the end of naming the next number. Then what happens if we find one more? There’s always one more after it’s all said and done. What about fifty years later? Seems unlikely to have no need of additional numbers after fifty years. In fact, fifty years is a long time to go without any additional numbers. There it is again. Time.

The way this is going, it’s starting to feel like the last number should have a prize attached. That is, if it can be locked down. That won’t be easy if it takes longer than a week to pronounce the number’s name. When we started this adventure it was about curiosity. Now it’s about possibility. For example, if the last number actually exists, could we even pronounce it? And if not, how could anyone recognize that it’s the one?

Is It In Time?

The time angle is inescapable. In fact, time is what undoes the final count. Imagine spending the time and effort to name the supposed last number only to discover that in the next moment it all starts all over again. The fact that another moment happened means the count goes on. Forget fifty years. One nanosecond blows the whole last number thing right out of the timeline. Furthermore, the moment time stops, so does everything else. As far as we know. Usually when we’re talking about how time stood still, it’s because something phenomenal happened.

Time is a necessary part of finding the last number. As well as recognizing and naming it. It’s undoubtedly large. In comparison pi is an irrational number, meaning its decimal representation goes on forever without ever ending or repeating. For example, supercomputers have successfully computed pi to a record 300 trillion digits. To put that in perspective, NASA uses just 15 decimal places to navigate interplanetary spacecraft. For now, it looks like the search for the last number is ongoing. And it looks like what it is, and when it happens, are equally important in its discovery.

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