Editing 2283: Exa-Exabyte
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==Explanation== | ==Explanation== | ||
− | This comic is arguably the ninth comic in a [[:Category:COVID-19|series of comics]] related to the {{w| | + | This comic is arguably the ninth comic in a [[:Category:COVID-19|series of comics]] related to the {{w|2019–20 coronavirus pandemic|2020 pandemic}} of the {{w|coronavirus}} - {{w|SARS-CoV-2}}. This comic does not clearly mention the virus but is a deliberate allusion to the biology and complexity behind the Coronavirus outbreak, or, if not a deliberate allusion, its theme of biological complexity could have been inspired thereby. |
This is a comic about the difficulty of picturing or understanding large numbers. As mentioned in the comic, an {{w|exabyte}} is 10<sup>18</sup> bytes, while an "exa-exabyte"—not a common word, but one that abuses the principles of {{w|metric prefix}}es—would be 10<sup>36</sup> bytes. 10<sup>36</sup> is properly given the name undecillion (in short scale, and sextillion in long scale). | This is a comic about the difficulty of picturing or understanding large numbers. As mentioned in the comic, an {{w|exabyte}} is 10<sup>18</sup> bytes, while an "exa-exabyte"—not a common word, but one that abuses the principles of {{w|metric prefix}}es—would be 10<sup>36</sup> bytes. 10<sup>36</sup> is properly given the name undecillion (in short scale, and sextillion in long scale). | ||
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[[Cueball]] expresses his difficulty in visualizing a number even as large as ''one'' exabyte (10<sup>18</sup> bytes). | [[Cueball]] expresses his difficulty in visualizing a number even as large as ''one'' exabyte (10<sup>18</sup> bytes). | ||
− | [[Megan]] trivializes the problem away by describing an exabyte as 10 apples, with "18 smaller apples, floating next to them and a little above", representing the notation 10<sup>18</sup> using apples for digits. This is entirely unhelpful, as using apples in a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unary_numeral_system base-1] enumeration offers no obvious advantages over base-10 in understanding exponents; Megan's bad advice | + | [[Megan]] trivializes the problem away by describing an exabyte as 10 apples, with "18 smaller apples, floating next to them and a little above", representing the notation 10<sup>18</sup> using apples for digits. This is entirely unhelpful, as using apples in a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unary_numeral_system base-1] enumeration offers no obvious advantages over base-10 in understanding exponents; Megan's bad advice & Cueball's seemingly ready acceptance of it causes Miss Lenhart to yell out "No!" in frustration. |
The title text further trivializes the problem of visualizing large numbers by suggesting that you can visualize 10<sup>18</sup> as a number by simply visualizing the similar-looking number of 10<sup>13</sup> with some extra lines drawn to turn the 3 into an 8. Changes in exponents can cause huge changes in the value shown, and this is no exception: Changing that 3 into an 8 changes the value by a factor of 100,000. | The title text further trivializes the problem of visualizing large numbers by suggesting that you can visualize 10<sup>18</sup> as a number by simply visualizing the similar-looking number of 10<sup>13</sup> with some extra lines drawn to turn the 3 into an 8. Changes in exponents can cause huge changes in the value shown, and this is no exception: Changing that 3 into an 8 changes the value by a factor of 100,000. |