Unexpected Factorial

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When you use an exclamation mark with a number, you’re actually implying it’s not a normal number any more. It’s a factorial!

Ok, so how does this work?

5!=1×2×3×4×5=120

6!=720

These numbers get really large. For example:

15!≈1.3×10^12

So, next time you see a headline with 2000! in it, you’ll know what to expect.

There are also double factorials (n!!) and iterated factorials (n!)!, and they aren’t the same thing. Just add more exclamation marks and you get multifactorial. Check wikipedia to see how spicy it gets.

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51 is divisible by 3! (sh.itjust.works)

submitted 1 month ago by threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works to c/unexpectedfactorial@sopuli.xyz

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Source: https://lemmy.blahaj.zone/comment/10788469

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[–] mumblerfish@lemmy.world 4 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

When lecturing I used to take my shoes off. I was asked about it once and said, which is true, it was because I was nervous and it helped my anxiety. But I should have used this as my reply.