Getting a grip on small numbers (Some illuminating examples)

Most people when faced with very small, or large, numbers have little intuitive idea of the magnitudes involved. The following examples may help you appreciate what these numbers represent.

If you wanted to make a very dry martini you might suggest a recipe of 5 parts per million ( 5 PPM ) vermouth in your favorite Gin. What would it take to actually construct this drink.

Dry martini recipes

5 PPM = 1 oz. vermouth + 1,562.5 Gallons of Gin
This is enough Gin to fill a party size hot tub 10 ft x 10 ft x 2 ft


5 PPB = 1 oz. vermouth + 1,562,500 Gallons of Gin
This is the equivalent of a very large swimming pool 100 ft x 200 ft x 10 ft


5 PPT = 1 oz. vermouth + 1,562,500,000 Gallons of Gin
This is the equivalent of the flow of the Mississippi River for about 6 hours.


5 PPT is also the equivalent of $20 worth of the $4 trillion US national debt.

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