Question on Infinite

[Pyrotex]

Originally Posted by Qfwfq

However, unlike infinity, zero does not exist only as a limit, it is a number.

"I am a free concept! I am not a number!"

--Zero, from the TV series, "The Prisoner"

[Qfwfq]

Zero is my prisoner and I decide whether or not he is a number!!!!!!

[Pyrotex]

Originally Posted by Qfwfq

Zero is my prisoner and I decide whether or not he is a number!!!!!!

ehhh, you can have him.

He doesn't amount to much.

[sanctus]

Originally Posted by Pyrotex

ehhh, you can have him.

He doesn't amount to much.

have you considered a world without the concept of zero? I think that amnesty international should step in if Qfwfq really holds nothing as prisoner

[Jet2]

If infinitely small can come to an end, would it be absolute zero?

[Tormod]

I think absolute zero would amount to nothing.

[Qfwfq]

Originally Posted by Jet2

If infinitely small can come to an end,

If it could come to an end, it wouldn't be infinitely small!

[ughaibu]

What about subtracting 0.9 recurring from 1?

[sanctus]

ughaibu, I guess that you actually get 0.0000..... i.e. not 0, hence you get the infinitely small but not 0.

[CraigD]

Originally Posted by ughaibu

What about subtracting 0.9 recurring from 1?

Originally Posted by sanctus

ughaibu, I guess that you actually get 0.0000..... i.e. not 0, hence you get the infinitely small but not 0.

The mathematically correct answer to ugh’s question is that you get zero, not an infinitesimal, because . Proof:





The critical idea here is that repeating decimals are concrete, fixed rational numbers, not algorithms for approximating such numbers, such as:
1. Set A to 0
2. Set B to 9
3. Set B to B divided by 10
4. Set A to A plus B
5. Repeat steps 3 through 5