info prev up next book cdrom email home

Berry Paradox

There are several versions of the Berry paradox, the original version of which was published by Bertrand Russell and attributed to Oxford University librarian Mr. G. Berry. In one form, the paradox notes that the number ``one million, one hundred thousand, one hundred and twenty one'' can be named by the description: ``the first number not nameable in under ten words.'' However, this latter expression has only nine words, so the number can be named in under ten words, so there is an inconsistency in naming it in this manner!


References

Chaitin, G. J. ``The Berry Paradox.'' Complexity 1, 26-30, 1995.




© 1996-9 Eric W. Weisstein
1999-05-26