Concept of infinity?
- Thread starter Turtleboy1017
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I would stand up, slap you and then leave since you'd have to provide me with a pen with an infinitesimal small tip to accomplish the taskTurtleboy1017 said:
Or I'd slap you and then prove to you that 0.9999... equals 1 and thus I'm entitled to slap you.
A good thought, but maths doesn't give a damn about the size of atoms. The lines will never be the same length. The fact that you run out of materials small enough to measure the increments doesn't prove the fallacy of the claim, only he inadequacy of the materials you are using to try and measure it.Meado said:
Maths is conceptual. Also, this question is pointless.
Not the same, but so close as to be technically the same, for any available use there is or will be. So close to the same number that it makes no difference.Specter_ said:
wiki [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/0.999999]Ultrajoe said:
In mathematics the repeating decimal 0.999? denotes a real number equal to one. In other words: the notations 0.999? and 1 actually represent the same real number. This equality has long been accepted by professional mathematicians and taught in textbooks. Proofs have been formulated with varying degrees of mathematical rigour, taking into account preferred development of the real numbers, background assumptions, historical context, and target audience.
And the sound of one hand clapping is 'cl'Specter_ said:
I agree with you, because it is equal to 1 in every measurable respect, and in mathematics the only things that matter are what is measurable, theoretic or otherwise. But that is not because they are mystically the same shaped number floating in the aether, this is a false way of thinking about maths, it is because they possess the same technical value, making their actual value a moot point.
I agree with you, even if you don't think so.
Actually it can. Energy and matter are one and the same and according to quantum mechanics (not my field but I have had classes in it) the fluctuations of space and/or even a singularity (which the universe was at the beginning of the Big Bang) can create matter and as far as I know energy out of nothing. This is called zero point energy by the way.Calax said:
P.S. Interesting side note: The universe might still be a singularity. The Schwarzschild radius of a black hole with the mass of the universe almost fit with the observed size of the universe.
Infinity is an unusual concept. Especially considering that in mathematics you can have different sized infinities. Moreover, in certain areas negative infinity is the same as positive infinity.
Of course that's mathematically speaking. In the real world we're not sure about the existence of infintesimal measurements. So saying that my line would never be as long as yours is false, there would be a point where the position of matter vibrates. Currently scientists consider plack length to be the smallest possible distance.
From a mathematical perspective there's no reason why theres any limit to the smallest object. For all we know the universe could be fractal in nature.
Of course that's mathematically speaking. In the real world we're not sure about the existence of infintesimal measurements. So saying that my line would never be as long as yours is false, there would be a point where the position of matter vibrates. Currently scientists consider plack length to be the smallest possible distance.
From a mathematical perspective there's no reason why theres any limit to the smallest object. For all we know the universe could be fractal in nature.
Second that, not really sure what it means but there were many big words so it must be correct..Chaz D said:
If I had an electron microscope and quite a bit of patience I could verify that I had drawn a line identical in length to yours. You cheating bastard.