Millions, Billions, Zillions: Defending Yourself in a World of Too Many Numbers

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By Brian W. Kernighan *69

Published June 13, 2018

Numbers are powerful — and prone to misuse and misinterpretation. Millions, Billions, Zillions (Princeton University Press) is an accessible, example-filled introduction to common numerical errors and a guide on how to use common sense to ascertain when reported numbers are, at the very least, reasonable.

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The October 2025 cover of PAW, featuring an illustration of a woman dressed like Superman, but the S on her chest is a dollar sign.
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