Year 9

The history of our number system is well documented. We have scientific notation or standard form to represent very large and very small numbers in a convenient manner. Because many of these numbers are now used frequently, it makes sense to name them. The metric system accommodates this and computer memory uses a binary convention. Advances in technology during the twentieth century have introduced these names into general conversation. Named by a young boy in 1938, a googol is \(10^{100}\). We talk of nano technology, with a nano being \(10^{-9}\). We buy computers with storage in megabytes \((2^{20})\), gigabytes \((2^{30})\) and now terabytes \((2^{40})\).

And of course we talk of distances in space in light-years, the distance travelled by light in one year (\(365\dfrac{1}{4}\) days).

There is a need for all students to have some knowledge of these terms, and some general understanding of their relative sizes.