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How can 8^8^8^8 (and higher such values) equal infinity? Shouldn't it be impossible to reach infinity with any amount of addition or multiplication of finite numbers?

 Nov 21, 2016

Best Answer 

 #1
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+5

The calculator here has a maximum display of 199! =~10^372. Do you have any understanding how big your number is? You simply cannot comprehend it!!!!.

 Nov 21, 2016
 #1
avatar
+5
Best Answer

The calculator here has a maximum display of 199! =~10^372. Do you have any understanding how big your number is? You simply cannot comprehend it!!!!.

Guest Nov 21, 2016
 #2
avatar+118653 
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Guest answerer is absolutely correct but the number is not infinity it is just that it is too big to display so this calc says it is infinity but it isn't really.   wink

Melody  Nov 21, 2016
 #3
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Some calculators will switch to EXPONENTIAL display...or SCIENTIFIC notation.... you lose some ACCURACY, but at such LARGE numbers it is usually insignificant.......YMMV

 Nov 21, 2016
 #4
avatar+118653 
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The web 2 calc will do that too ElectricPavlov - well it will if you are using it on the home page anway, but this number is just too large large to be displayed.

 

I just tried it on my casio and i got the same result that is 'maths error'

 

Wolfram Alpha does give an approximation but few calcs would.

http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=8%5E8%5E8%5E8

Melody  Nov 21, 2016
 #5
avatar+37084 
+5

Way cool, Melody...Thanx!  Power on Down Under.

 Nov 21, 2016

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