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Tree of Three Number So Large Even Two Trillion Pages Cannot Prove Its Existence

By Egleze Editorial Desk · Published May 30, 2026 · Theories of Everything · The Genius Who Invented Reverse Mathematics
Tree of Three Number So Large Even Two Trillion Pages Cannot Prove Its Existence
Theories of Everything
Theories of Everything
The Genius Who Invented Reverse Mathematics

What was said

"You can't prove it exists without using 2 to the 1 trillion pieces of paper. That doesn't mean that it's bigger than 2 to the trillion. It's incredibly bigger than that. Even with 2 trillion pieces of paper, you're not even proving it exists."

The number TREE(3), derived from Kruskal's theorem about infinite sequences of finite trees, is so incomprehensibly large that even with computational resources using 2 to the trillion pages of proof, its existence cannot be demonstrated within standard arithmetic. Graham's number is minuscule by comparison, barely noticeable next to TREE(3).

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Attributed speaker claim

Egleze verified who said this and where. The underlying claim has not been independently established by Egleze.

Source and context

Egleze verified who said this and where. The underlying claim has not been independently established by Egleze.

Programme
Theories of Everything
Episode
The Genius Who Invented Reverse Mathematics
Clip time
41:49
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Theories of Everything
Theories of Everything

The Genius Who Invented Reverse Mathematics

May 18, 2026 · 5 Egleze moments
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