NO FOOL! Then you're being selfish and subjecting the rest of the world to both of them. You beat them both to dead then shoot off the lock to the door.Queen Michael said:
Either God or George W. BushRattler5150 said:
Your impossible questions?
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It equals Infinite. There is a complicated explanation, but basically it can all be summed to...CJackson95 said:
Infinity + Infinity = Infinity
Infinity * Infinity = Infinity
[Hey, I guess something good did come out of MATH102 - Introduction to Algebra.
]EDIT: Probably got ninja'd several times before, but I had to do it anyways.
Furthermore, I saw earlier someone asking about division by 0. It's undefined, it can't be done. There are some number systems that define it (as infinity), but the standard Western Mathematical system leaves it undefined. [Both cases make equal sense. Having it defined allows some things to be done, but it's mostly useless].
No, infinity - infinity and infinity / infinity are indeterminate.Aesthetical Quietus said:It equals Infinite. There is a complicated explanation, but basically it can all be summed to...CJackson95 said:
Infinity + Infinity = Infinity
Infinity - Infinity = 0
Infinity * Infinity = Infinity
Infinity / Infinity = 1
[Hey, I guess something good did come out of MATH102 - Introduction to Algebra.
If they weren't, we'd have this problem:
2 + infinity = infinity
=>
2 + infinity - infinity = infinity - infinity
=>
2 + 0 = 0
=>
2 = 0
Hm, good point. Guess I need to either re-read my lecture notes, or ask him some questions.Maze1125 said:No, infinity - infinity and infinity / infinity are indeterminate.Aesthetical Quietus said:It equals Infinite. There is a complicated explanation, but basically it can all be summed to...CJackson95 said:
Infinity + Infinity = Infinity
Infinity - Infinity = 0
Infinity * Infinity = Infinity
Infinity / Infinity = 1
[Hey, I guess something good did come out of MATH102 - Introduction to Algebra.
If they weren't, we'd have this problem:
2 + infinity = infinity
=>
2 + infinity - infinity = infinity - infinity
=>
2 + 0 = 0
=>
2 = 0
[Or maybe not try to remember my notes at 3:20am]
Thanks for that^^
The math and science questions pretty much all have answers, and I'm really bored.
The first thing to realize is that infinity is not treated as a number in mathematics. It's better to think of it as a set or domain of numbers that have various parameters, but no end. Since infinity is a set that has no end, adding any real number to it, even infinity itself, does not change the set parameters therefore ∞+∞=∞, as was already pointed out.
As far as ∞-∞, there actually is an answer, which is the domain of all real numbers, which symbol is (roughly) |R. Basically the answer is any number you want. The reasoning behind this is that, algebraically, if you want to prove a subtraction you invert the equation to show that it's true. If x-y=z, then z+y=x. Ex. 5-3=2 so 2+3=5. With ∞, any number works. ∞-∞=5 and 5+∞=∞ so that equation is true. You could use 15 instead of 5, or any number for that matter and it would still be true, because adding anything to an infinity doesn't change that set. So basically ∞-∞=|R. So there is a correct answer, just not a conventional one.
∞*∞=∞. It's just like the addition problem. You're merely adding an infinite set to itself an infinite number of times. Still doesn't change anything.
∞/∞=|R. Basically the same type of proof as subtraction. If x/y=z then z*y=x. ∞/∞=5 and 5*∞=∞. Once again, any number works.
From a purely math standpoint you would never reach the other side. The distance you are from the other side of the room could be represented as the function d(n->∞=1/(2^n). You would only reach the opposite wall after an infinite number of moves and so would never get there.
However, an answer I came up with after a bit of thought (and feel free to cram this down your teacher's throat if it's brought up again) is taken from a physical standpoint. While you would halve your distance for a certain number of moves that depends on how large the room is, eventually you wouldn't be able to do that anymore. Between your eyes, brain and muscles you only have a certain amount of motor function to discern certain distances. After a point, your body would literally be physically unable to move such a minute distance as to travel half your previous movement. Basically, from a practical view, there is a minimum distance that you can move. Therefore: A. you would stop moving completely, which would invalidate the paradox completely as the whole thing revolves around reaching the other side, or B. you would reach your minimum range of movement and continue to travel the minimum distance each move, eventually causing you to reach the other side. The fucked up thing is, I didn't come up with that until two days after someone pushed the same question on me. It's like when someone rips on you and you only think of a witty comeback 2 hours later. I hate shit like that.
Wow, did I just write all that? Holy crap I hope this is the longest post I ever put on Escapist. That's what happens when a physics major gets very bored. But really there's only one law of physics you have to remember.
The 1st law of physics: Never under any circumstance piss off a physicist with a crowbar.
CJackson95 said:
Yeah, he's pretty much right but I'll elaborate because I'm still bored.Eclectic Dreck said:
The first thing to realize is that infinity is not treated as a number in mathematics. It's better to think of it as a set or domain of numbers that have various parameters, but no end. Since infinity is a set that has no end, adding any real number to it, even infinity itself, does not change the set parameters therefore ∞+∞=∞, as was already pointed out.
As far as ∞-∞, there actually is an answer, which is the domain of all real numbers, which symbol is (roughly) |R. Basically the answer is any number you want. The reasoning behind this is that, algebraically, if you want to prove a subtraction you invert the equation to show that it's true. If x-y=z, then z+y=x. Ex. 5-3=2 so 2+3=5. With ∞, any number works. ∞-∞=5 and 5+∞=∞ so that equation is true. You could use 15 instead of 5, or any number for that matter and it would still be true, because adding anything to an infinity doesn't change that set. So basically ∞-∞=|R. So there is a correct answer, just not a conventional one.
∞*∞=∞. It's just like the addition problem. You're merely adding an infinite set to itself an infinite number of times. Still doesn't change anything.
∞/∞=|R. Basically the same type of proof as subtraction. If x/y=z then z*y=x. ∞/∞=5 and 5*∞=∞. Once again, any number works.
I think someone else did this one too, I'm just really bored. This is basic mechanics, no quantum theory or such involved. It's conservation of momentum. The fly has mass and velocity and therefore has an amount of momentum or inertia. It's traveling at a vector directly opposite that of the train's, so when it hits the train it must experience complete negative acceleration, before being accelerated along the vector that the train is traveling on. The fly must have zero velocity for an instant before being pushed in the direction of the train. Otherwise, it would be like going from 0-60mph in your car without ever going 35mph. You can't just skip from 34mph to 36mph without going through 35 first. Also the train would decelerate very, very slightly from the impact with fly, since both objects have mass and velocity and momentum is conserved. Of course, the train has so much more momentum, it's not like you'd notice if you were on it.Private Custard said:
To me there are two answers to this; the mathematical one and the physical one.Wakikifudge said:
From a purely math standpoint you would never reach the other side. The distance you are from the other side of the room could be represented as the function d(n->∞
=1/(2^n). You would only reach the opposite wall after an infinite number of moves and so would never get there.However, an answer I came up with after a bit of thought (and feel free to cram this down your teacher's throat if it's brought up again) is taken from a physical standpoint. While you would halve your distance for a certain number of moves that depends on how large the room is, eventually you wouldn't be able to do that anymore. Between your eyes, brain and muscles you only have a certain amount of motor function to discern certain distances. After a point, your body would literally be physically unable to move such a minute distance as to travel half your previous movement. Basically, from a practical view, there is a minimum distance that you can move. Therefore: A. you would stop moving completely, which would invalidate the paradox completely as the whole thing revolves around reaching the other side, or B. you would reach your minimum range of movement and continue to travel the minimum distance each move, eventually causing you to reach the other side. The fucked up thing is, I didn't come up with that until two days after someone pushed the same question on me. It's like when someone rips on you and you only think of a witty comeback 2 hours later. I hate shit like that.
A miracle? Naw just kidding but seriously, you walked right into that one.RabbidKuriboh said:
Because science has proven the existence of douchebags.bak00777 said:
Yeah, pretty much right. The really messed up thing is, nothing with mass can ever travel at the speed of light. You'd basically have an object with an infinite amount of kinetic energy colliding with an infinite amount of inertia. Regardless both objects, regardless of which one is moving as that could actually be considered relative, would both have to contain an infinite amount of energy So, I dunno, the universe collapses, it's not really physically possible anyway. I hope.Niccolo said:
Wow, did I just write all that? Holy crap I hope this is the longest post I ever put on Escapist. That's what happens when a physics major gets very bored. But really there's only one law of physics you have to remember.
The 1st law of physics: Never under any circumstance piss off a physicist with a crowbar.
You shoot yourself, obviously. You won't have to hear either!Wintermute_ said:
The temporary answer I came up with is that the uncomfortable feeling of pain is a survival mechanism to have you stop doing whatever was hurting you, as it was obviously not healthy.Jasper Jeffs said:
Impossible question answered? Possibly.
In layman's terms, it equals infinity. In technical terms, i.e. those terms Maths students like me understand, it's a moot point either way, as infinity doesn't exist as a number yet is very useful as a concept and theory, with which we can prove all sorts of useful basic functions that act as the building blocks for mathematics in generalCJackson95 said:
.
Not really, since the endless sum over 1/2^n is always smaller than 1 (...or rather smaller than 2, if you start counting at 0...)TheMann said:To me there are two answers to this; the mathematical one and the physical one.Wakikifudge said:
From a purely math standpoint you would never reach the other side. The distance you are from the other side of the room could be represented as the function d(n->∞
this reminds me of a similar one I randomly thought of myself one day. If something, say a ball is falling towards the ground it has to go half that distance, and then half that distance again and so on. With this logic in mind, doesn't that mean it could never reach the floor??Wakikifudge said:
I have never been able to think of the answer to this myself, and I don't think I ever will. It's sort of one of those brain killer things that defy the laws of everything if you know what I mean.
