Googol

The number \begin{equation*} 10^{100}, \end{equation*} having $100$ digits. In spite of this large size, such numbers can be worked with on modern (1998) networks of computers. See, e.g., [a1] for the factorization of the $108$-digit number $(12^{167}+1)/13$ into two prime factors of $75$ and $105$ digits, respectively.

The number $1$ followed by a googol of zeros is called the googolplex.

The game of googol is a betting game that is equivalent to the secretary problem. It dates from around 1958 and is described in [a2]. Its name derives from the fact that it does not matter how large the numbers are that are chosen in the game.

Comments

Do not confuse with Google.

References

[a1]	P. Montgomery, S. Cavallar, H. te Riele, "A new world record for the special number field sieve factoring method" CWI Quaterly , 10 : 2 (1997) pp. 105–107
[a2]	M. Gardner, "New mathematical diversions from Scientific Amer." , Simon&Schuster (1966) pp. 35–36; 41–43