Q: Hi Eric,

I like to understand numerical terms in millions rather than billions or trillions. So this is how I am understanding a trillion, and please tell me if I am right or wrong. I know a million is 10 100,000 (having 100,000 x 10 = 1,000,000).

Now, a billion is 1,000 million.

So a billion is having 1,000,000 x 1,000 = 1,000,000,000.

Now for a trillion, a trillion is 1,000 billion. So a trillion is having 1,000,000,000 x 1,000 = 1,000,000,000,000.

Next is quadrillion, and I can't even go there for now.

So having one million (1,000,000) one million times (1,000,000) = one trillion, 1,000,000,000,000. Is a trillion having a million a million times?

-- Thank you, A Reader.

A: Umm, yes -- 1 million times 1 million equals 1 trillion. (I was roommates with a math major in college.)

Here, look at this first:

1,000 = thousand (3 zeros) or 1 to the 3rd power.

1,000,000 = million (6 zeros) or 1 to the 6th power.

1,000,000,000 = billion (9 zeros) or 1 to the 9th power.

1,000,000,000,000 = trillion (12 zeros) or 1 to the 12th power.

1,000,000,000,000,000 = quadrillion (15 zeros) or 1 to the 15th power.

1,000,000,000,000,000,000 = quintillion (18 zeros) or 1 to the 18th power.

I don't want to oversimplify, but when multiplying decimals of 10, basically, you are just combining zeros. More accurately, you are moving the decimal point of one integer the number of zeros of the other.

10 x 10 = 100; 10 x 100 = 1,000; 100 x 1,000 = 100,000, etc.

So, think of it this way: A trillion dollars is a million stacks of a million dollars.

Eric Norris is the adult department librarian at the Hays Public Library. "Ask Eric" questions can be mailed to 1205 Main, Hays, KS, 67601, submitted through www.hayspublib.org at the "Ask Eric" link or e-mailed to enorris@hayspublib.org.