More maths

[Sombrero]

so,

if n/0 = infinity,

(n being any integer),

then ..

n = infinity x 0....

so any integer = 0?

I'm confused !

 

[Gasman28]

http://www.mathsisfun.com/whole-numbers.html

In a recent report, 2/3's of people do not understand maths and the other half were OK.

 

[Sombrero]

http://www.mathsisfun.com/whole-numbers.html

In a recent report, 2/3's of people do not understand maths and the other half were OK.

add value? or explain the linky?

 

[DanFraser]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Division_by_zero

Read the fallacies section.

 

[EddieM]

Infinity is not a number, hence you cannot do arithmetic with it.

 

[noseall]

Infinity is not a number, hence you cannot do arithmetic with it.

How does algebra work then?

 

[DanFraser]

It can be a result because it's a theoretical number but because it's a theoretical number and you can never know its true value you can't use it to get a result.

 

[opps]

It can be a result because it's a theoretical number but because it's a theoretical number and you can never know its true value you can't use it to get a result.

You don't need to know the value of something to use it. As a construct infinity is used a lot, as is zero.

Both zero and infinity are commonly used in calculus. Even allowing us to "prove" paradoxes.

My particular favourites are imaginary numbers.

 

[DanFraser]

It can be a result because it's a theoretical number but because it's a theoretical number and you can never know its true value you can't use it to get a result.

You don't need to know the value of something to use it. As a construct infinity is used a lot, as is zero.

Both zero and infinity are commonly used in calculus. Even allowing us to "prove" paradoxes.

My particular favourites are imaginary numbers.

Zero is a real number though.

 

[opps]

It can be a result because it's a theoretical number but because it's a theoretical number and you can never know its true value you can't use it to get a result.

You don't need to know the value of something to use it. As a construct infinity is used a lot, as is zero.

Both zero and infinity are commonly used in calculus. Even allowing us to "prove" paradoxes.

My particular favourites are imaginary numbers.

Zero is a real number though.

Zero is an anomaly though (a mathematical convenience if you like). It is defined as a real number even though many of the rules of real numbers do not apply to zero (eg it has no inverse).

 

[EddieM]

Infinity is not a number, hence you cannot do arithmetic with it.

How does algebra work then?

with numbers.

 

[opps]

Infinity is not a number, hence you cannot do arithmetic with it.

How does algebra work then?

with numbers.

not always. Take the curve of 1/x, using the limits of 0 and infinity, you can generate a "cone" that has a larger surface area than volume. In other words if you fill it with paint, there will not be enough paint inside it to paint the outside of the cone. No other numbers were harmed in this equation

 

[EddieM]

Infinity is not a number, hence you cannot do arithmetic with it.

How does algebra work then?

with numbers.

not always. Take the curve of 1/x, using the limits of 0 and infinity, you can generate a "cone" that has a larger surface area than volume. In other words if you fill it with paint, there will not be enough paint inside it to paint the outside of the cone. No other numbers were harmed in this equation

Eh?

 

[EFLImpudence]

not always. Take the curve of 1/x, using the limits of 0 and infinity, you can generate a "cone" that has a larger surface area than volume. In other words if you fill it with paint, there will not be enough paint inside it to paint the outside of the cone. No other numbers were harmed in this equation

Don't put it on so thick, then.

 

[Sombrero]

Thanks for your replies people, but can anyone explain how any integer is equal to the product of zero and infinity?

Or do we need to explore infinity? after all, infinity plus 1 = infinity, and infinity - 100 = infinity? infinity divided by 2 = iinfinity?

And Infinity - (infinity - 1) = 1?

I'm confused !