A Disruptive View of Big Number Arithmetic - Math Foundations 173

Explore the fascinating world of big number arithmetic in this 32-minute video lecture from the Math Foundations series. Delve into the concept of extremely large numbers, including googols and googolplexes, and examine the use of exponential towers to represent even larger values. Investigate the consequences of working with such immense quantities, challenging conventional approaches to arithmetic and infinity. Analyze the limitations of induction as a proof technique when dealing with enormous numbers, and critically examine common assumptions about infinite sets. Gain a fresh perspective on the nature of natural numbers and the boundaries of mathematical understanding in this thought-provoking exploration of numerical extremes.

Intro to really big arithmetic!
Extremely big numbers
Using towers of exponents
Towers of towers of exponents
Consequences of big number thinking
Induction as a proof technique
Questioning the usual glib approach to "infinite sets"