What Comes After Trillion?

🚀What Happens When Numbers Get…Outrageously Big?

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Have you ever found yourself wondering, “What comes after a trillion?”

You’re not alone! Numbers beyond a trillion might seem like they belong in a sci-fi movie, but they’re very real—and incredibly fun to explore.

In this article, we’ll guide you through a full list of large named numbers, all the way from million to centillion.

Here’s What You’ll Discover:

• What comes after billion and trillion

• What a decillion and centillion actually are

• When we stop naming numbers and start using scientific notation

“Do not worry about your difficulties in mathematics. I can assure you mine are still greater.”

— Albert Einstein

Whether you’re a math nerd or just wildly curious, this large numbers list will blow your mind 🤯. Without further adu, Let’s zero in on the facts! (Full pun intended😊).

📘 What Is the Short Scale System?

Before we dive into the list, lets do a quick overview of how these large numbers are actually structured:

• The short scale system is used in the United States, Canada, and most English-speaking countries

• Each step adds three more zeros to the previous number

• This system differs from the long scale (used in parts of Europe), where new terms increase by six zeros

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🔢 Large Numbers List: From Million to Centillion

Below is your go-to chart of named numbers. These are the ones you’ve probably heard (and many you haven’t!).

Each name adds 3 more zeros to the previous one, all the way to the mighty centillion.

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Large Number List: Name–Number of Zeros–Scientific Notation-Prefix Origin:

Million 6 10⁶ Milli- (1,000 × 1,000)

Billion 9 10⁹ Bi- (2)

Trillion 12 10¹² Tri- (3)

Quadrillion 15 10¹⁵ Quadri- (4)

Quintillion 18 10¹⁸ Quinti- (5)

Sextillion 21 10²¹ Sexti- (6)

Septillion 24 10²⁴ Septi- (7)

Octillion 27 10²⁷ Octo- (8)

Nonillion 30 10³⁰ Noni- (9)

Decillion 33 10³³ Deci- (10)

Undecillion 36 10³⁶ Undeci- (11)

Duodecillion 39 10³⁹ Duodeci- (12)

Tredecillion 42 10⁴² Tredeci- (13)

Quattuordecillion 45 10⁴⁵ Quattuordeci- (14)

Quindecillion 48 10⁴⁸ Quindeci- (15)

Sexdecillion 51 10⁵¹ Sexdeci- (16)

Septendecillion 54 10⁵⁴ Septendeci- (17)

Octodecillion 57 10⁵⁷ Octodeci- (18)

Novemdecillion 60 10⁶⁰ Novemdeci- (19)

Vigintillion 63 10⁶³ Viginti- (20)

Centillion 303 10³⁰³ Cent- (100)

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🧠 Why Do We Stop Naming Numbers After Centillion?

Beyond a certain point, naming numbers gets, well …impractical.

While “centillion” (10³⁰³) is the highest regularly named number, it’s rare to see it used outside of mathematical curiosities or fun facts.

What Happens Once we get beyond Centillion?

💡 We switch to scientific notation — such as 10⁴⁰⁰⁰⁰ (a 10 with 40,000 zeros!)

For example:

• A googol = 10¹⁰⁰ (a 10 with 100 zeros)

• A googolplex = 10^(googol) = 10^(10¹⁰⁰)

There are even numbers in theoretical genetics and quantum physics that exceed this—like the number of possible unique humans, which could be as high as 10⁴⁰⁰⁰⁰ based on DNA combinations.

That’s more than all the atoms in the observable universe!

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🔍 Quick Fun Facts About Large Numbers

• “Decillion” has 33 zeros

• A billion seconds is roughly 31 years

• Centillion is rarely used outside math theory

• Scientific notation is more practical than naming beyond this list

• The short scale adds 3 zeros per name; the long scale adds 6

🔗 Go Deeper: Explore More About Huge Numbers

Want to go deeper into the world of numerical giants? Check these resources out:

• Britannica: Numeral

• MathWorld: Large Numbers

• National Human Genome Research Institute

• NASA Guide to Scientific Notation

• PRB: How Many People Have Ever Lived?

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✨ The Wrap: What Comes After a Trillion?

From million to centillion, the world of numbers is both wild and wonderfully weird.

If you’re tracking economic figures, studying galactic distances, or just trying to impress your friends at trivia night, knowing what comes after a trillion is a superpower worth having.

If this helped expand your knowledge base, please share it with your friends and relatives—and let’s keep the conversation growing (just like these numbers)!

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