Math Is Fun Forum

mathxyz

Member

From: Brooklyn, NY

Registered: 2024-02-24

Posts: 1,053

Square Root {∞}

Can we take the Square root of positive infinity? Is that even positive?

Keep_Relentless

Member

From: Queensland, Australia

Registered: 2024-05-05

Posts: 61

Re: Square Root {∞}

infinity * infinity = infinity squared = infinity.

Last edited by Keep_Relentless (2024-05-09 01:34:07)

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"The most incomprehensible thing about the world is that it is comprehensible." -Albert Einstein.

mathxyz

Member

From: Brooklyn, NY

Registered: 2024-02-24

Posts: 1,053

Re: Square Root {∞}

infinity * infinity = infinity squared = infinity.

It is not possible to take the square root of a concept, right?

Infinity is a concept.

Yes? No?

Keep_Relentless

Member

From: Queensland, Australia

Registered: 2024-05-05

Posts: 61

Re: Square Root {∞}

If it's possible to multiply infinity by itself and get infinity, then it should be possible to square root infinity and get infinity. I don't see why not. If you're looking for an answer that is a real number though, it doesn't exist.

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"The most incomprehensible thing about the world is that it is comprehensible." -Albert Einstein.

mathxyz

Member

From: Brooklyn, NY

Registered: 2024-02-24

Posts: 1,053

Re: Square Root {∞}

If it's possible to multiply infinity by itself and get infinity, then it should be possible to square root infinity and get infinity. I don't see why not. If you're looking for an answer that is a real number though, it doesn't exist.

If we treat infinity like a number (it is not a number), then we can say that sqrt{infinity} = infinity.

Bob

Administrator

Registered: 2010-06-20

Posts: 10,627

Re: Square Root {∞}

The graph of y = square_root(x) would suggest this but it's best not to try to fit infinity into the 'normal' set of numeric calculations.

Bob

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Children are not defined by school ...........The Fonz
You cannot teach a man anything;  you can only help him find it within himself..........Galileo Galilei
Sometimes I deliberately make mistakes, just to test you!  …………….Bob

mathxyz

Member

From: Brooklyn, NY

Registered: 2024-02-24

Posts: 1,053

Re: Square Root {∞}

The graph of y = square_root(x) would suggest this but it's best not to try to fit infinity into the 'normal' set of numeric calculations.

Bob

Bob,

What is the name of the math topic in Calculus l or Calculus ll that uses infinity as an integer to evaluate functions?

Bob

Administrator

Registered: 2010-06-20

Posts: 10,627

Re: Square Root {∞}

In the UK we don't have courses called calculus 1 and 2.

Bob

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Children are not defined by school ...........The Fonz
You cannot teach a man anything;  you can only help him find it within himself..........Galileo Galilei
Sometimes I deliberately make mistakes, just to test you!  …………….Bob

mathxyz

Member

From: Brooklyn, NY

Registered: 2024-02-24

Posts: 1,053

Re: Square Root {∞}

In the UK we don't have courses called calculus 1 and 2.

Bob

All this time I thought you were in the United States. What are courses called in the UK?

Bob

Administrator

Registered: 2010-06-20

Posts: 10,627

Re: Square Root {∞}

Small world. Hadn't you noticed I spell maths correctly.

Our 17 and 18 year olds who study advanced maths meet calculus, trig formulas, exponentials amongst other things.

This link will show you a typical syllabus:

https://qualifications.pearson.com/cont … issue4.pdf

There is also a further maths A level so the stronger students can get a second qualification.

Bob

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Children are not defined by school ...........The Fonz
You cannot teach a man anything;  you can only help him find it within himself..........Galileo Galilei
Sometimes I deliberately make mistakes, just to test you!  …………….Bob

mathxyz

Member

From: Brooklyn, NY

Registered: 2024-02-24

Posts: 1,053

Re: Square Root {∞}

Small world. Hadn't you noticed I spell maths correctly.

Our 17 and 18 year olds who study advanced maths meet calculus, trig formulas, exponentials amongst other things.

This link will show you a typical syllabus:

https://qualifications.pearson.com/cont … issue4.pdf

There is also a further maths A level so the stronger students can get a second qualification.

Bob

I will visit the link tomorrow as it is getting late here in New York City.