Duotrigintillion or Dotrigintillion?

Date: 03/14/2002 at 02:05:28
From: Webster Clervis
Subject: Duotrigintillion or Dotrigintillion?

My dad and I looked at some of the biggest numbers here today. He said 
I could send this. What number is right? Duotrigintillion or 
Dotrigintillion?

Thanks!

Date: 03/14/2002 at 08:53:48
From: Doctor Peterson
Subject: Re: Duotrigintillion or Dotrigintillion?

Hi, Webster.

Both forms are used, if you can actually say they are used! Since 
names like these are mostly just made up in order to complete the 
list, people have different opinions and there's no authority to refer 
to for a final decision. Several other number names (or polygon names, 
and so on) vary in this way.

I presume you saw these, which use "duo-":

   Decillion, Vigintillion, Trigintillion... - Dr. Math archives
   http://mathforum.org/dr.math/problems/trichardt12.10.98.html   

   Numbering Systems and Place Values - John Knoderer
   http://www.mazes.com/numberingsystems.html   

and these, which use "do-":

   Names for Big Numbers - Dr. Math archives
   http://mathforum.org/dr.math/problems/kesselheim2.11.97.html   

   Names for Large Numbers - Russ Rowlett
   http://www.unc.edu/~rowlett/units/large.html   

You might be interested in this site I recently found, which 
illustrates some of the variation you can find in similar terms:

   Numbers and Numerical Prefixes - Forthright
   http://phrontistery.50megs.com/numbers.html   

The fact is, correct spelling is not always as clear as modern 
American schools want you to think! You can choose which form you 
think works best; I lean toward "duo-" myself, as you see here:

   Powers of 10 - Dr. Math archives
   http://mathforum.org/dr.math/problems/melanie.07.14.99.html   

- Doctor Peterson, The Math Forum
  http://mathforum.org/dr.math/