I know there is a name for largest number should be one for smallest besides zero or infinity minus zero
2006-12-18 05:07:20 · 14 answers · asked by jeffrey b 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Mathematics
There is no largest or smallest number. You can increase towards infinity and decrease towards minus infinity but they are not really numbers.
2006-12-18 05:10:16 · answer #1 · answered by Barkley Hound 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
If you're talking about real numbers... there is no largest or smallest number that is an element of R. It's quite easy to prove.
Largest number: Suppose there is a largest number x E R. Then x+1 is larger than x and x+1 E R also. Contradiction. Hence there is no largest number.
Smallest: Same proof as above, using x-1 instead of x+1.
If you meant infinitesimally small, e.g. the smallest number > 0, then for any "smallest" x there is x/2 which is smaller and still strictly positive.
2006-12-18 05:18:54 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You do know that there isn't a largest or smallest number, right? Numbers are one of those things which are infinite ... in BOTH the positive and negative directions.
When you ask what the world's smallest number is, what exactly do you mean: some extreme negative number or some number close to 0?
2006-12-18 05:10:05 · answer #3 · answered by Puggy 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Sister: Daisy Rose Brother: John-David River Cousin a million: Griffin Blue Cousin 2: Kara Madeleina Daughter a million: Winifred Alex "Freddie" Rabbit: Zooey Willow puppy Daughter 2: Elizabeth Rayyan Guinea Pig: Cookie Daughter 3: Rachel Emily Daye
2016-10-15 04:31:41 · answer #4 · answered by tonini 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I didn't think there was a name for either the largest OR the smallest number.
2006-12-18 05:09:56 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
There is no smallest number, other than zero.
2006-12-18 05:11:52 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Mathematicians use "positive infinity" for something that is greater than any number, and "negative infinity" for something that is less than any number.
For the things that are closer to zero than any number, mathematicians sometimes use "positive infinitesmal" and "negative infinitesmal" (in-fin-i-TEZ-mull), but this is not very common.
2006-12-18 05:11:08 · answer #7 · answered by jrr7_05_02 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The smallest whole number is called "one".
2006-12-18 05:11:42 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
The Planck length is the tiniest number to my knowledge that has a name. The value is 1.6 x 10^-35 meters.
See: Planck's constant; Planck's length; Planck time.
2006-12-18 05:17:34 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
The Vatican...ask the Pope...(Hey Mc..your answer was pretty cool...cant say I know her though...)
2006-12-18 05:16:15 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋