Infinity (mathematical symbol ∞) is an enigmatic concept. It is a number larger than one can continplate. Googol in the number 1 followed by a million zeroes. No, not even close. Even googol to the power googol is still far short.
Interestingly enough, infinity has a close relation to the number zero … which took a while to be recognized as a real number in mathematics. Now, zero is a little more understandable than infinity … you have 2 apples and take away 2 apples, you have zero apples. But, approaching zero by using rational numbers (fractions) is a little different. 1/10 is not zero … 1/10,000 sis not zero. Even 1/googol is still not zero. But mathematics has decided that 1/infinity (1/∞) is zero! And of course then zero divided by one (or any number) is infinity.
But what then pilgrim, is infinity divided by infinity (∞/∞)? /I would contend … against many mathematicians … that the answer is one.
I may take this meme further in later blog posts. See: Scientific American article for a hint.
STAND UP FOR MATHEMATICS!
I recall a QA guy at Muse whose head almost exploded trying to verify all the mathematical permutations of infinity.
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