Huge Numbers – Errata and Updates

P10 para 2. Update! The highest number counted out loud is now 1,070,000 by Favour Ogechi Ani on 16 December 2025. Link here.

P94 para 2. Correction. The period of 584 days is not the duration of the orbit of Venus around the sun, but rather the synodic period of Venus from Earth, i.e. the time it takes for Venus to return to its original starting point from the perspective of an observer on Earth (which is also orbiting).

P120 para 3. Correction. In chemical reactions such as a conventional fire, mass does also decrease, although only at a level of around 1 part in 10 billion, which is neglible for practical purposes.

P148 para 3. Correction. “…only 2×10⁻³⁴ grams at most,…”

P181 para 1. Correction. “…This lottery has six balls…”

P183 para 1. Correction. To compare like with like, it would be better to give a figure of 3,674,160 for the number of scrambles of a 2×2×2 pocket cube.

P185 para 1. Update! The largest physical puzzle cube is now a 49×49×49 puzzle, by Preston Alden in 2024. Link here.

P191 para 2. Correction. “…would take it deep into the Age of Iron Stars
before completing…”

P263 footnote. Update! The highest break achieved in a professional snooker touranment is now 153 by Ronnie O’Sullivan on 20 March 2026. Link here.

P306 para 2. Correction. “…reporting 5×2¹⁸ as 1,311,720 instead of 1,310,720…”

P329 references. Correction. Reference Friedman (2011) from page 326 should also appear here.