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Why does ∞ + ∞ = ∞?
Last edited by mathxyz (2024-05-08 10:50:43)
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Is it because you can't have more than infinity, so infinity plus any number/concept won't equal more than infinity?
You could add a trillion to infinity but end up with no more than infinity
You could add a quadrillion to infinity but end up with no more than infinity
You could add the largest number we have a name for to infinity but end up with no more than infinity
And you could add infinity to infinity but end up with no more than infinity
I'm guessing this is a reminder that infinity is not a number, it's an idea?
Prioritise. Persevere. No pain, no gain.
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Hilbert's infinite hotel is a commonly used illustration.
If an infinite hotel were full and you wanted to accommodate more guests, as many as you like, just shift the occupants along as many spaces as needed.
If it were full and you wanted to accommodate an infinite number of new guests, just shift each occupant to a room double their current room number.
So, infinity plus infinity is infinity.
Furthermore, you could do this infinitely many times.
So infinity times infinity is infinity.
And I assume infinity to the power of infinity is infinity?
And so on?
K_R
Last edited by Keep_Relentless (2024-05-09 01:05:33)
"The most incomprehensible thing about the world is that it is comprehensible." -Albert Einstein.
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Is it because you can't have more than infinity, so infinity plus any number/concept won't equal more than infinity?
You could add a trillion to infinity but end up with no more than infinity
You could add a quadrillion to infinity but end up with no more than infinity
You could add the largest number we have a name for to infinity but end up with no more than infinity
And you could add infinity to infinity but end up with no more than infinityI'm guessing this is a reminder that infinity is not a number, it's an idea?
Yes, correct. It makes sense to me. However, in Calculus l or ll, infinity is sometimes used as a substitute to evaluate or simplify expressions. I cannot think of a good example right now.
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