Moderator Multiplying Posts by 2: 64 Times!

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The discussion revolves around a mathematical challenge involving a member and a moderator on a physics forum. The member proposes a bet that the moderator cannot double his post count to match the member's total of 64 posts. The moderator's initial post count is 1, and to meet the challenge, he would need to achieve 2^64 posts, which is an enormous number: 18,446,744,073,709,551,616. The conversation highlights the impracticality of reaching this number through repeated doubling over time, ultimately leading to the conclusion that it is impossible. Participants express surprise at the size of 2^64, noting it has 20 digits, and some share the steps to calculate it using a calculator. The discussion touches on the standard chessboard problem, where the formula would yield 2^65 - 1, emphasizing the mathematical nature of the challenge.
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I guess most of you have come to this problem sometime, but this is my modern adaptation of it:

A member of physics forums bets with a moderator that he (the moderator) won't be able of multiplying his number of posts by two in the number of posts he (the normal member) has.

member's posts: 64

moderator's posts: 1

what moderator has to do: times his posts (1) by 2, 64 times.

After three decades the moderator accepts that it's impossible to achieve.

How many posts did the moderator have to do?
 
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2^64, that's not even a puzzle. In the standard chessboard formulation of the problem it would be 2^65 - 1.[/color]
 
BicycleTree said:
2^64, that's not even a puzzle. In the standard chessboard formulation of the problem it would be 2^65 - 1.[/color]

ok, its not a puzzle, but its about math:

What I wanted you people to give me is the number 2^64 not tell me 2^64, I already said that!
 
what so supprising with the 'number' of 2^64
 
ArielGenesis said:
what so supprising with the 'number' of 2^64

just that it's dificult to get: well, with a calculator it's easy, but you still have to multiply by tewo so many times, the numbr must be enormous. I just want to know it and knwo if there is someone that is so board that he has nothing better to do than this.
 
Step 1: Open microsoft calculator.
Step 2: Press the key labeled 2.
Step 3: Press the x^y key.
Step 4: Press the key 6
Step 5: Press the key 4.
Step 6: Press the key labeled =.
Step 7: Select "copy" from the Edit menu.
Step 8: Press ctrl-v in the Quick Reply window.

18446744073709551616
 
What is the standard chessboard formula?

2^64 has about 20 digits, I doubt I could even name it correctly so I will not bother trying to write it out in its full glory.

Edit: I was correct, it did have 20 digits. Wow, what a useful little calculator!
 
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