The CONCEPT of Infinity

Hawkeye · 02-13-2008, 01:40 PM

There seems to be a lot of threads lately about topics that revolve around infinity so I just thought I would see what everyone thought. I had many arguments/conversations with my professors about this so I am sure I can bring good arguments to all answers (except #2

)

Kilockel · 02-13-2008, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hawkeye

There seems to be a lot of threads lately about topics that revolve around infinity so I just thought I would see what everyone thought. I had many arguments/conversations with my professors about this so I am sure I can bring good arguments to all answers (except #2

)

I'm going to have to go with the option of there being infinitely different sizes of infinity.

You can't put a limit on an infinite number. That's reserved for the finite, unfortunately.

Hawkeye · 02-13-2008, 02:02 PM

Britannica says it is a "useful concept of a process with no end... it is the idea of a limit"

When you take the limit of something to infinity, which size are you using? Or do you think there are many indistinguishable sizes?

Kilockel · 02-13-2008, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hawkeye

Britannica says it is a "useful concept of a process with no end... it is the idea of a limit"

When you take the limit of something to infinity, which size are you using? Or do you think there are many indistinguishable sizes?

According to my views, Britannica is wrong.

Again you're "limiting" something that cannot, by definition, be limited. Infinity (in my opinion) can't be "added" on to something after it has reached its limit. Being completely endless, it would stretch infinitely before that limit, and infinitely after that limit. You either have infinity or you don't.

That being said... Infinity being infinity has infinite sizes, concepts, and rules (or lack of). None of which we'll ever truly understand, unfortunately.

UncleWede · 02-13-2008, 02:15 PM

What, no love for pi and e??? Infinity ain't got nothing on them!!!

!Xoible · 02-13-2008, 02:16 PM

none

UncleWede · 02-13-2008, 02:17 PM

hater

s1eepy · 02-13-2008, 03:23 PM

hm..
my take is that infinity is just the concept of being limitless. its an idea of never ending, and can't be treated as a number, or object, so it doesn't really have size[s].
add a "none" option to your poll so i can vote

Expired · 02-13-2008, 03:57 PM

Infinity: Ones limitless power in a Dodgeball tournament.

-Nathan

Kilockel · 02-13-2008, 04:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Expired

Infinity: Ones limitless power in a Dodgeball tournament.

-Nathan

Not to burst your bubble... But that's not the correct symbol! The line shouldn't separate at any point!

Hawkeye · 02-13-2008, 04:22 PM

Personally I think Infinity is a concept and so there is only one infinity, that covers all applications it is used for.

My professor said there are various sizes of infinity and explained it as such:
There are an infinate integers. There are an infinate amount of real numbers between 0 and 1. Therefore the infinity of the real numbers is a larger infinity and the infinity of the integers.

In mathematics, there are actual notations for different sizes of infinity. Alof knot (sp?) is supposedly the largest.

FirstClass · 02-13-2008, 04:26 PM

There is one Infinity. However, that one thing encompasses infinite numbers. I voted for one size.

s1eepy · 02-13-2008, 05:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hawkeye

Personally I think Infinity is a concept and so there is only one infinity, that covers all applications it is used for.

My professor said there are various sizes of infinity and explained it as such:
There are an infinate integers. There are an infinate amount of real numbers between 0 and 1. Therefore the infinity of the real numbers is a larger infinity and the infinity of the integers.

In mathematics, there are actual notations for different sizes of infinity. Alof knot (sp?) is supposedly the largest.

well there are different infinities in mathematics ie. continuum, cardinal, ordinal, etc., but your original thread title emphasized the concept of infinity itself, so i figure there is no size to the concept.

semantics?

that aside, there are many sets within different types of infinities, so i'd agree with your professor otherwise.

aut0sh0cker · 02-13-2008, 07:13 PM

there is only one infiniti, + and - are the same. somehow my quantum physics teacher once told me that based on the nature of the universe, if you traveled infinitely far in ANY direction, you would surpass the realm of the universe as created by the big bang, and basically space itself... what this means is everything infinitely far away is all at the same exact place...

^^ i never really understood all that...

TurboFan · 02-13-2008, 08:47 PM

I'm going to have to go with one. By saying there are multiple infinitis, you must be putting boundaries on them, therefore they are then not infiniti.

TurboFan · 02-13-2008, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aut0sh0cker

there is only one infiniti, + and - are the same. somehow my quantum physics teacher once told me that based on the nature of the universe, if you traveled infinitely far in ANY direction, you would surpass the realm of the universe as created by the big bang, and basically space itself... what this means is everything infinitely far away is all at the same exact place...

^^ i never really understood all that...

your prof is correct, assuming you can travel at a rate greater than c.

Kilockel · 02-13-2008, 09:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TurboFan

I'm going to have to go with one. By saying there are multiple infinitis, you must be putting boundaries on them, therefore they are then not infiniti.

Wouldn't an infinite "blank" have endless possibilities?

The only limit being placed is you stating there can only be one.

GeriFix · 02-13-2008, 10:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mantis

none

I concur

Expired · 02-14-2008, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kilockel

Not to burst your bubble... But that's not the correct symbol! The line shouldn't separate at any point!

You've obviously never made a stencil before..

-Nathan

BayAreaE92 · 02-14-2008, 03:09 PM

What's so good about Infiniti anywayz...it does have a limit...It's called the G37

Hawkeye · 02-14-2008, 03:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BayAreaE92

What's so good about Infiniti anywayz...it does have a limit...It's called the G37

This discussion is about Infinity... not Nissan.

Plus, the G37 isn't their nicest car anyway.

TurboFan · 02-14-2008, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kilockel

Wouldn't an infinite "blank" have endless possibilities?

The only limit being placed is you stating there can only be one.

exactly, there is only one, with endless possibilities, but as soon as you try to define it, it is no longer infinite.

View Poll Results: How many sizes of Infinity are there?
Just One	14	38.89%
Two	6	16.67%
Infinately Many	16	44.44%
Voters: 36. You may not vote on this poll

02-13-2008, 01:40 PM	#1
Hawkeye Brigadier General 2070 Rep 4,365 Posts Drives: '07 Z4 Coupe, '21 X3, '16 GMC Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Iowa iTrader: (0) Garage List 2016 GMC Sierra SLT [10.00] 2008 Yamaha R6 [9.00]	The CONCEPT of Infinity There seems to be a lot of threads lately about topics that revolve around infinity so I just thought I would see what everyone thought. I had many arguments/conversations with my professors about this so I am sure I can bring good arguments to all answers (except #2 ) __________________ 2007 Z4 3.0si Coupe • 6 MT • Black Saphire Metallic • PP • SP 2016 GMC Sierra SLT Z71 Premium Plus 4x4 2017 Harley StreetGlide • Denim Black • V&H Tune 2021 BMW x30i • Phytonic Blue Metallic • Fully loaded
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02-13-2008, 02:02 PM	#3
Hawkeye Brigadier General 2070 Rep 4,365 Posts Drives: '07 Z4 Coupe, '21 X3, '16 GMC Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Iowa iTrader: (0) Garage List 2016 GMC Sierra SLT [10.00] 2008 Yamaha R6 [9.00]	Britannica says it is a "useful concept of a process with no end... it is the idea of a limit" When you take the limit of something to infinity, which size are you using? Or do you think there are many indistinguishable sizes? __________________ 2007 Z4 3.0si Coupe • 6 MT • Black Saphire Metallic • PP • SP 2016 GMC Sierra SLT Z71 Premium Plus 4x4 2017 Harley StreetGlide • Denim Black • V&H Tune 2021 BMW x30i • Phytonic Blue Metallic • Fully loaded
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02-13-2008, 02:15 PM	#5
UncleWede Long Time Admirer, First Time Owner 18031 Rep 9,378 Posts Drives: G01 X3 M40i Dark Graphite Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Oxnard, CA iTrader: (0)	What, no love for pi and e??? Infinity ain't got nothing on them!!!
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02-13-2008, 02:16 PM	#6
!Xoible Banned 837 Rep 46,029 Posts Drives: .... Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: . iTrader: (4) Garage List 2008 M3 [4.00] 2007 335i [9.00] 2008 528i [8.00] 2006 Infiniti - G35 ... [8.00]	none
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02-13-2008, 02:17 PM	#7
UncleWede Long Time Admirer, First Time Owner 18031 Rep 9,378 Posts Drives: G01 X3 M40i Dark Graphite Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Oxnard, CA iTrader: (0)	hater
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02-13-2008, 03:23 PM	#8
s1eepy -_- 35 Rep 204 Posts Drives: e92 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: socal iTrader: (1)	hm.. my take is that infinity is just the concept of being limitless. its an idea of never ending, and can't be treated as a number, or object, so it doesn't really have size[s]. add a "none" option to your poll so i can vote
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02-13-2008, 03:57 PM	#9
Expired Fanatic 99 Rep 175 Posts Drives: N/A Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Houston, Tx iTrader: (0)	Infinity: Ones limitless power in a Dodgeball tournament. -Nathan __________________ People only know what you tell them. ►Only in ROFL Copter.◄
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02-13-2008, 04:22 PM	#11
Hawkeye Brigadier General 2070 Rep 4,365 Posts Drives: '07 Z4 Coupe, '21 X3, '16 GMC Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Iowa iTrader: (0) Garage List 2016 GMC Sierra SLT [10.00] 2008 Yamaha R6 [9.00]	Personally I think Infinity is a concept and so there is only one infinity, that covers all applications it is used for. My professor said there are various sizes of infinity and explained it as such: There are an infinate integers. There are an infinate amount of real numbers between 0 and 1. Therefore the infinity of the real numbers is a larger infinity and the infinity of the integers. In mathematics, there are actual notations for different sizes of infinity. Alof knot (sp?) is supposedly the largest. __________________ 2007 Z4 3.0si Coupe • 6 MT • Black Saphire Metallic • PP • SP 2016 GMC Sierra SLT Z71 Premium Plus 4x4 2017 Harley StreetGlide • Denim Black • V&H Tune 2021 BMW x30i • Phytonic Blue Metallic • Fully loaded
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02-13-2008, 07:13 PM	#14
aut0sh0cker meh 123 Rep 1,756 Posts Drives: E92 335i, 997.2 C4S Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: 91362 iTrader: (2)	there is only one infiniti, + and - are the same. somehow my quantum physics teacher once told me that based on the nature of the universe, if you traveled infinitely far in ANY direction, you would surpass the realm of the universe as created by the big bang, and basically space itself... what this means is everything infinitely far away is all at the same exact place... ^^ i never really understood all that...
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02-13-2008, 08:47 PM	#15
TurboFan Ski bum 317 Rep 6,198 Posts Drives: sideways Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Knee deep in the pow iTrader: (8)	I'm going to have to go with one. By saying there are multiple infinitis, you must be putting boundaries on them, therefore they are then not infiniti. __________________ 1999 e46 328i Ti Silver / Black[retired] 2007 e90 335xi Jet Black / Black[retired] 2011 e70 X5 35d Vermillion Red / Cinnamon 2011 e92 M3 LeMans / Fox Red extended
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02-14-2008, 03:09 PM	#20
BayAreaE92 First Lieutenant 20 Rep 368 Posts Drives: 91' 850i Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Oakland, CA iTrader: (0) Garage List 1991 850i [7.75] 2007 328i Coupe [0.00]	What's so good about Infiniti anywayz...it does have a limit...It's called the G37
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