What is infinity?

hermanntrude

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Jun 23, 2006
7,267
118
63
47
Newfoundland!
I guess it depends on whether you believe numbers are reality or abstraction. If numbers are real then so is infinity.

One infinity can be defined by the question "how many integers are there?". the answer is infinity.

However. Infinities come in different sizes. How many odd integers are there? the answer comes in two parts. the first part is that it's half as many as there are integers. The second part is that it's also infinity. there is a whole branch of mathematics around the concept of infinity, although i'm not sure how pure or applied it might be.
 

JLM

Hall of Fame Member
Nov 27, 2008
75,301
548
113
Vernon, B.C.
What is infinity?Abstraction or Reality?Speculation or Fact ?
Does infinity have any physical parameters?

I think this question was asked before and I don't think the answer has changed- must be a REALLY slow "news day".................:lol:
 

hermanntrude

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Jun 23, 2006
7,267
118
63
47
Newfoundland!
perhaps infinity defines the concept of a physical parameter. Any absolute measure of distance would have to be based on the biggest size there is, which would be the size of the universe (probably), which for all intents and purposes is infinite. Measures of distance are currently all relative... the metre is a stick of lead or steel or something in france, for instance.
 

s_lone

Council Member
Feb 16, 2005
2,233
30
48
44
Montreal
I'm not sure exactly what infinity is... But it seems to me that the closest thing to infinity that we can experience is the 'now'... ''Now'' just doesn't end...
 

hermanntrude

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Jun 23, 2006
7,267
118
63
47
Newfoundland!
I think the "now" is closer to infinitesimal than infinite. I guess it depends on whose point of view you're using. I tend to go for the point of view of the universe, because my own is so unreliable.
 

Dexter Sinister

Unspecified Specialist
Oct 1, 2004
10,168
539
113
Regina, SK
Well now, what people think infinity might be seems to depend on where they're coming from. The idea arises in several branches of mathematics, in philosophy, theology, cosmology... The basic idea to me is just the notion of things that can increase without limit. There's no largest integer, for instance, so we say the number of integers is infinite: no matter how large an integer you can think of, you can always add one to it and make a larger one. The number of points on a line is also infinite, but it's infinitely larger than the number of integers, infinity squared if you like, which is surprisingly simple to prove, so there are different orders of infinity. The first one, the infinity of integers, is often called aleph null, or aleph zero, or aleph nought. The second one, the infinity of real numbers, is called aleph one, and believe it or not, it's the same size as the number of points in a plane, or a 3D space, or a 4D space, or any other number of dimensions. All of those are surprisingly easy to prove too, simple arithmetic is all it takes. Aleph two might be the number of points in a space of infinite dimensions, I haven't tried to take the analysis that far.
 

china

Time Out
Jul 30, 2006
5,247
37
48
74
Ottawa ,Canada
Thanks for all the above posts .
Below is something I'v found on the line .Dexter ,what's your opinion .

The concept of infinite/ eternal means nothing
to a scientists. They do not understand how they could
draw any real, concrete conclusions from this characteristic.
A notions of "more", "less", "equally, "similar" could not
be conformed to a word infinity or eternity.
The Infinity/Eternity is something, that has no borders,
has no discontinuity; it could not be compared to anything.
Considering so, scientists came to conclusion that the
infinity/eternity defies to a physical and mathematical definition
and cannot be considered in real processes.
Therefore they have proclaimed the strict requirement
(on a level of censor of the law):
« If we want that the theory would be correct,
the infinity/eternity should be eliminated ».
Thus they direct all their mathematical abilities,
all intellectual energy to the elimination of infinity.

Is this way correct?


,
 

hermanntrude

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Jun 23, 2006
7,267
118
63
47
Newfoundland!
the above statement isnt true. While the concept of infinity is hard to comprehend, mathematics can do a pretty good job. Large scale calculations can be performed involving infinite numbers which actually DO reach concrete conclusions.

Scientists do not try to eliminate infinity. The usual reaction to the concept of infinity is a state of wonder and an attempt to define, understand and manipulate through mathematics.
 

Dexter Sinister

Unspecified Specialist
Oct 1, 2004
10,168
539
113
Regina, SK
The concept of infinite/ eternal means nothing
to a scientists.... Is this way correct?
No. Infinity has certain well-defined characteristics in mathematics, as I tried to show in my previous post. It's not an easy idea to grasp, but it *is* possible to perform certain mathematical operations with it, and form some logical conclusions about it. The ideas of the infinitely small and the infinitely large are central to many operations in calculus, like the notion of the sum of an infinite series, and the core idea of the limit when you're dealing with ratios of variables that may approach infinity at different rates. Infinity means a great deal to scientists.
 

Cliffy

Standing Member
Nov 19, 2008
44,850
193
63
Nakusp, BC
Allan Watts postulated that if he could see infinity with a telescope and you could also you find that you are looking at each other. I added to that by postulating that if I could see infinity through a telescope and you could see infinity through a microscope, we would find ourselves looking at each other. Can that be proved through math?
 

GreenFish66

House Member
Apr 16, 2008
2,717
10
38
www.myspace.com
From the infinite to the infintesimal

Infinity (symbolically represented with ∞) comes from the Latin infinitas or "unboundedness." It refers to several distinct concepts (usually linked to the idea of "without end") which arise in philosophy, mathematics, and theology. In mathematics, "infinity" is often used in contexts where it is treated as if it were a number (i.e., it counts or measures things: "an infinite number of terms") but it is a different type of "number" from the real numbers.

infintesimal =1.indefinitely or exceedingly small; minute: infinitesimal vessels in the circulatory system. 2.immeasurably small; less than an assignable quantity: to an infinitesimal degree. 3.of, pertaining to, or involving infinitesimals.

All depends where you put the 0....lol

Words that explain math?

It is all that we believe but are uncertain of!....

From the infinite to the infintesimal and beyond!!(?)

lol

Have fun!...