If you like another thought conunderum like the speed of light thread, then try and define an
infinite number???
Please do not fall into the trap of thinking of any set of numbers, because if you do this there will always be one more number in a set than the one you thought of
there`s a symbol to show infinite number 8 rotated by 90 degrees, but u can say extacly number for infinite 
| WhistleTurning wrote: |
If you like another thought conunderum like the speed of light thread, then try and define an
infinite number???
Please do not fall into the trap of thinking of any set of numbers, because if you do this there will always be one more number in a set than the one you thought of |
um...ok?infinite just mean "never ending". The universe never ends because it constantly grows, but you can still has an edge, it just isn't defined, for it keeps growing. Consider a line that grows 2 inches every day. on the first day it will be 2 inches, on the second day it will be 4 inches, it is Infinitly expanding/growing, but it has a number each day. 2, 4, 6 ,8.. so, even if it is infinite, you can say how big it is on, 10th day and so on and since its always expanding/growing with no end in sight its called infinite.
It's like dividing by zero. or something. It's huge... What do you realy mean by "define an
infinite number"? I don't think there are any infinite numbers. It's only to define the intervall.
Infinity is not a number.
Infinity is the notion of something larger than any real number.
You could look it up on Wikipedia or something for a better definition, I just thought thought that up as I was typing, but I believe it is a valid definition.
| nilsmo wrote: |
Infinity is not a number.
Infinity is the notion of something larger than any real number.
You could look it up on Wikipedia or something for a better definition, I just thought thought that up as I was typing, but I believe it is a valid definition. |
Nope. The number of real numbers (e.g. 1.0, 1.1, 2.73, 3.1415926, etc in base 10.), aka the Cardinality C of that set, is 2^infinity (Penrose, 2004). Infinity, or Aleph-null (Cantor, 1845-1918) is the countable number of integers , e.g. http://www.mathacademy.com/pr/prime/articles/cantor_theorem/
C = 2^infinity = 2 x 2 x 2 x ...
Physics has no need for any number strictly greater than this. Phew! ed.Infinity is not a number. It is a concept. A concept and a number are two very different things.
*feels wise*
| newolder wrote: |
| Nope. The number of real numbers (e.g. 1.0, 1.1, 2.73, 3.1415926, etc in base 10.), aka the Cardinality C of that set, is 2^infinity |
Oh thank you for reminding me about Cantor's theorem. Set theory wasn't at the top of my mind when I wrote the definition (i'm 15).
Looking at Wikipeida, it seems my definition was the Calculus definition http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infinity#Calculus while yours was the set theory definition http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infinity#Set_theory . Both are good definitions making good sense in my view
| teknotom wrote: |
Infinity is not a number. It is a concept. A concept and a number are two very different things.
*feels wise* |
So, sage, define the concept.I define infinity as server overload.
To demonstrate please find a free web host that allows php or any other program (Preferably not Frihost though and run the following:)
| Code: |
<?php
$x=1;
while(1=1){
print "I shall show you infinity";
}
?> |
Infinity is server overload. End of discussion :] 
(Although this script wouldn't cause too much trouble as compared to constant MySQL queries and connections :/ hmmm) You get the point though right? i've always found it helpful not to think of infinity as a number, but rather a direction of travel. Saying an expression comes equal to infinity does not tell you a result per se, but rather is more like a sign pointing off in the distance saying "your result went thataway".
| Indi wrote: |
| i've always found it helpful not to think of infinity as a number, but rather a direction of travel. Saying an expression comes equal to infinity does not tell you a result per se, but rather is more like a sign pointing off in the distance saying "your result went thataway". |
Yeah, that's the limit/calculus definition. It's really similar to what I said before:
Infinity is the notion of something larger than any real number.i think human mind isnt designed for understanding infinity itself.. but only talk about it... maybe to feel it only... as a number or anything else...
From a physicist point of view, infinity is defined in a comparative way. If you have a given property X, an x value of this property is infinite when x is much greater than a typical x0 value of X, where much greater means x/x0 >> 1. In a similar fashion you define an infinitesimal: x is an infinitesimal when x is much smaller than a typical x0 value of X, where much smaller means x/x0 << 1.
| explosive wrote: |
| i think human mind isnt designed for understanding infinity itself.. but only talk about it... maybe to feel it only... as a number or anything else... |
So extra-terrestrial minds and computers can? 
