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The Conversation USA

Millions, billions, trillions: How to make sense of numbers in the news

  • Written by Andrew D. Hwang, Associate Professor of Mathematics, College of the Holy Cross
imageBreaking down the big numbers.helen_g/Shutterstock.com

National discussions of crucial importance to ordinary citizens – such as funding for scientific and medical research, bailouts of financial institutions and the current Republican tax proposals – inevitably involve dollar figures in the millions, billions and trillions.

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