> I'm new to the group.

Welcome!

> I'm trying to get my brain wrapped around the concept of a
> Googleplex. I *think* * understand a Google. It's one followed by
> 100 zeros, right?

Yes.

> The definition of a Googleplex is one followed by a google of zeros?
> I don't get it. The definitions sound the same.

They're kind of the same: they all involve one followed by some
number of zeros. But, the NUMBER of zeros is QUITE different.
Here's an approach to this topic that might shed some light
on what's going on:

Ten can be defined as one followed by one zero (ie 10).
The corresponding "plex" number, call it a "tenplex",
is one followed by ten zeros, also known as 10 billion
(ie 10,000,000,000).

Going up in size, a hundred can be defined as one
followed by two zeros (100). A "hundredplex" is then one
followed by a hundred zeros, also known as a googol
(ie 10,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,
000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,
000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000).

There would then be a thousand and a thousandplex,
and so on.

Thinking about these smaller analogous examples might
help you in getting a feel for the relationship between
a googol and a googolplex.

> I've looked around on the web ...

Searching for "googol" rather than "google" will
get you MUCH better search engine results.

Just in case it doesn't come up in your web searching,
let me also mention that my essay
"10, 10^10, 10^10^10... Infinity"
<http://www.gbbservices.com/math/large.html>
touches on related topics.

Hope that helps,

Walter

--- skyblueredbirdgreenhouse wrote:
> Hello,
> I'm new to the group.
> I'm trying to get my brain wrapped around the concept of a
> Googleplex. I *think* * understand a Google. It's one followed by
> 100 zeros, right?
> The definition of a Googleplex is one followed by a google of zeros?
> I don't get it. The definitions sound the same.
> If anyone can help shed some light on this mysterious concept I'll
> be very grateful. I've looked around on the web for a site that will
> explain it but most searches turn up crap about the google search
> engine.
> Thanks in advance for any help!