Rayo's number is a large number named after Agustín Rayo [es] which has been claimed to be the largest (named,) number.[1][2] It was originally defined in a "big number duel" at MIT on 26 January 2007.[3][4]
Definition
The definition of Rayo's number is a variation on the definition:[5]
The smallest number bigger than any finite number named by an expression in the language of set theory with a googol symbols or less.
\( {\displaystyle Rayo(10^{100})BC} \)
Specifically, an initial version of the definition, which was later clarified, read "The smallest number bigger than any number that can be named by an expression in the language of first-order set-theory with less than a googol (10100) symbols."[4]
The formal definition of the number uses the following second-order formula, where [φ] is a Gödel-coded formula and s is a variable assignment:[5]
For all R {
{for any (coded) formula [ψ] and any variable assignment t
(R([ψ],t) ↔
(([ψ] = "xi ∈ xj" ∧ t(xi) ∈ t(xj)) ∨
([ψ] = "xi = xj" ∧ t(xi) = t(xj)) ∨
([ψ] = "(∼θ)" ∧ ∼R([θ],t)) ∨
([ψ] = "(θ∧ξ)" ∧ R([θ],t) ∧ R([ξ],t)) ∨
([ψ] = "∃xi (θ)" and, for some an xi-variant t' of t, R([θ],t'))
)} →
R([φ],s)}
Given this formula, Rayo's number is defined as:[5]
The smallest number bigger than every finite number m with the following property: there is a formula φ(x1) in the language of first-order set-theory (as presented in the definition of Sat) with less than a googol symbols and x1 as its only free variable such that: (a) there is a variable assignment s assigning m to x1 such that Sat([φ(x1)],s), and (b) for any variable assignment t, if Sat([φ(x1)],t), then t assigns m to x1.
References
"CH. Rayo's Number". The Math Factor Podcast. Retrieved 24 March 2014.
Kerr, Josh (7 December 2013). "Name the biggest number contest". Archived from the original on 20 March 2016. Retrieved 27 March 2014.
Elga, Adam. "Large Number Championship" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 July 2019. Retrieved 24 March 2014.
Manzari, Mandana; Nick Semenkovich (31 January 2007). "Profs Duke It Out in Big Number Duel". The Tech. Retrieved 24 March 2014.
Rayo, Agustín. "Big Number Duel". Retrieved 24 March 2014.
Undergraduate Texts in Mathematics
Graduate Studies in Mathematics
Hellenica World - Scientific Library
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