Cowke Posted October 23, 2009 Bank claim that is out of this world By Lauren Hansen BBC News US bank customer Dalton Chiscolm could learn on Friday if he is one step closer to becoming the world's first ever billion-trillionaire. Mr Chiscolm sued Bank of America in Manhattan's federal court in August for "$1,784 billion trillion" , in a complaint that boiled down to poor customer service. But US District Judge Denny Chin asked Mr Chiscolm to provide further evidence to support his claims by 23 October, or find them dismissed. $1,784 BILLION TRILLION Dr Kevin Houston helps break down exactly how much Dalton Chiscolm is asking Bank of America to pay him for poor customer service. Judge Chin is familiar with large sums of money, having just sentenced financier Bernard Madoff to a 150-year prison term. But Madoff's $65bn (£40bn) Ponzi scheme pales in comparison to the amount Mr Chiscolm expects from the bank. Judge Chin called the complaint "incomprehensible", in an order released in court. Many zeroes The actual number, 1,784 billion trillion, is equal to 1.784 multiplied by 10 to the 24th power, or roughly 1,784 followed by 21 zeroes. Using the International System of Units, this number is called a Yotta. Which is how much exactly? "The Sun has the power of a Yotta microwave ovens," says Chris Budd, Professor of Applied Mathematics at the University of Bath, by way of explanation. This unfathomable number is used mainly by scientists to measure the very small or the very large, said Dr Kevin Houston, senior lecturer at the the School of Mathematics at the University of Leeds. But people are not meant to actually comprehend a number this size. "I don't think the human brain is set to deal with those numbers," he said. 'Completely silly' The specificity of Mr Chiscolm's requested amount - $1,784 billion trillion - is even more curious. International System of Units Kilo (K) = 3 zeroes Mega (M) = 6 zeroes Giga (G) = 9 zeroes Tera (T) = 12 zeroes Peta (P) = 15 zeroes Exa (E) = 18 zeroes Zetta (Z) = 21 zeroes Yotta (Y) = 24 zeroes Source: Chris Budd "It could be that if they did say just one billion it would seem just plucked out of the air," Dr Houston said. "Is it something to do with a date? What happened in 1784?" Following up Dr Houston's suggestion, we found a few events in 1784 that could offer insight into the inspiration behind the number. Is Mr Chiscolm an American nationalist? On 14 January, the American Revolutionary War ended and Congress ratified the Treaty of Paris. Or perhaps he is a classical music aficionado, for Mozart's Sonata in B flat, K454, premiered in Vienna on 29 April. Maybe he is a newspaper fan, because America's first daily newspaper, Penns Packet and General Advertiser, was published on 21 September. Regardless of the reasoning, the monetary amount is beyond financial recognition. "The guy wants more money than there is in the world," Dr Houston said. "It's completely silly." Getting the claim approved by the judge may be one hurdle for this disgruntled customer. But finding the money if he won the suit would be quite another. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Paragon Posted October 23, 2009 "The guy wants more money than there is in the world," Dr Houston said. "It's completely silly." Reminds me of Bill Conolly and 'The Man Who Sued God' Wax walbo filo. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Buuxo Posted October 23, 2009 Well how much money is there in the world? :confused: Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nin-Yaaban Posted October 23, 2009 Not enuff for everyone Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nin-Yaaban Posted October 23, 2009 Obviously this guy is to be blamed for... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
peasant Posted October 23, 2009 I think he probably knew he was going to loose the case and thought he might as well have 15 min fame on the side.. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bint hamid Posted October 23, 2009 what is this greed and corruption?!?! there are little babies everywhere dying of hunger and thirst and disease.. and there are innocent people everywhere with no houses whose stuff got flooded out or buried in earthquakes or stolen by some thieves but this kafir wants some yottas of money? may Allah give him exactly what he deserves Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Buuxo Posted October 26, 2009 Ninyaban, I was in the belief there is loads of money(unimaginable amounts),we just don't all know where it's kept Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
