Overview 

In this activity we use the calculator dialog as a column calculator to generate large numbers. But what do large numbers really mean? After a certain point they can be hard to imagine, we provide some context to help you come to grips with their infinite potential. 

Watch this video

 

Video script prepared by Rachel Kirk-Gushowaty, and Roger Stern.  Video constructed and voiced by Beryl Waswa.

  • 0:00 Introduction to R-Instat 
  • 0:06 Introduction to Interpreting Numbers 
  •  0:17 Basic Numbers 
  • 1:20 Working with Tens 
  • 2:23 Interpretation of Numbers of tens 
  • 4:08 Googol 
  • 8:10 Factorials 
  • 12:38 Some interesting Numbers 
  • 13:18 Prime Numbers 
  • 14:19 Next Steps
(14 minutes)

Then use R-Instat to play around with having a column calculator and practice generating numbers yourself. 

The Measure of Things is a fun website that helps people visualize the meaning of numbers and quantities by relating them to tangible items.  For example did you know that 10 liters is about six times as big as an ostrich egg?