#xkcd 2966

[todays-xkcd]

Calligraphy exam: Write down the number 37, spelled out, nicely.

Exam Numbers [Explained]

Transcript Under the Cut

[6 different math test questions.] [The first panel:] Kindergarten math final exam Q. Write down the biggest number you can think of A. [empty box]

[The second panel:] Pre-algebra final exam Q. Write down the value of x if x=3x-8 A. [empty box]

[The third panel:] Calculus final exam Q. Write down the value of [integral sign, from 0 to pi] x sin^2 x dx A. [empty box]

[The fourth panel:] PhD cosmology final exam Q. Write down the Hubble constant to within 1% A. [empty box]

[The fifth panel:] Game theory final exam Q. Write down 10 more than the average of the class's answers A. [empty box]

[The sixth panel:] Postgraduate math final exam Q. Write down the biggest number you can think of A. [empty box]

[dragonsampersanddragons]

For the postgrad final exam, I would put 1/ε.

Here's my reasoning: I was thinking about what I would put for the last one, and I ended up deciding. Anything I can put, I can obviously put something larger. Even if I go ∞, I can start in on ordinals, or surreals, or whatnot. Clearly the way to answer this is to somehow avoid that armsrace. So ... what if I interpret "number" to be much more strict. The Reals. Or in theory I could do the Complexes, but < and > don't order them.

So - what's the largest number I can think of? One on epsilon.

Thoughts? What would other people write?