Is one over infinity zero?

[Iron Addict]

Mathematically, logically, rationally and sanely does one over infinity equal to zero?

 

[Whoozyerdaddy]

Infinity is a concept, not a number. Therefore it can't be divided nor can you divide by it.

 

[Kirby]

i don't think the number line is a circle....


EDIT: nm, i thougth you meant 1 + infinity.

but the limit of 1 over infinity is i guess.

 

[iamaelephant]

Taking limits into account I'm sure it is.

 

[IAteYourMother]

1/x as x approaches infinity is 0

 

[Ricemarine]

Well... 1/0 = an asymptote at 0... meaning it goes away from the origin.
1/infinity would probably mean that it goes toward the origin?

 

[UncleWai]

how about 0.999...../infinity?

 

[magomago]

Originally posted by: UncleWai
how about 0.999...../infinity?

any finite number divided by something else, where that something else is taken to infinity is zero.


Don't think of it necessarily as 1/infinity...stuff like that doesn't work. When dealing with infinity, usually one takes something on finite magnitude and let it extend out to infinity: ie - the limit.

 

[Colt45]

sure, why not.

 

[gwlam12]

Originally posted by: IAteYourMother
1/x as x approaches infinity is 0

But x cannot approach infinity since infinity is not a number. x increases without bound.

 

[iamaelephant]

Originally posted by: gwlam12

Originally posted by: IAteYourMother
1/x as x approaches infinity is 0

But x cannot approach infinity since infinity is not a number. x increases without bound.

Spot the guy who never took calc.

 

[UncleWai]

The limit of 1/x as x approaches infinity is 0.
It never reaches zero, the bound is zero.

 

[Locut0s]

1/infinity is undefined. What you are thinking of is the limit Lim 1/x as x->infinity which is zero. NOT the same thing.

 

[magomago]

Originally posted by: UncleWai
The limit of 1/x as x approaches infinity is 0.
It never reaches zero, the bound is zero.

Its practically zero. make it .00000000000000000000000000000000000000000001 there will be no real world difference.

This is what sets apart engineers from scientists...

 

[Locut0s]

Originally posted by: magomago

Originally posted by: UncleWai
The limit of 1/x as x approaches infinity is 0.
It never reaches zero, the bound is zero.

Its practically zero. make it .00000000000000000000000000000000000000000001 there will be no real world difference.

This is what sets apart engineers from scientists...

Do you mean engineers from mathematicians?

 

[WildHorse]

I agree with Whoozyerdaddy.

It always stuck in my memory that in some book Robert A. Heinlein chastised those who teach that infinity is a number.

Infinity is not a number.

 

[compuwiz1]

1 over infinity is a guarantee of redundancy.

 

[Mucho]

infinitesimal

 

[Stuxnet]

Originally posted by: IAteYourMother
1/x as x approaches infinity is 0

True, but that's a limit, not "dividing by infinity". HOWEVER, OP, infinity is not a number. You cannot multiply by it, divide by it, or add to/subtract from it.

 

[sao123]

Originally posted by: Iron Addict
Mathematically, logically, rationally and sanely does one over infinity equal to zero?

I dont remember "over" being one of the math operation I learned...

Just to double check, my calculator doesnt do "over" either.

 

[waggy]

first i give credit to everyone that understood what he was talking about. one over infinity? sheesh


infinity is great. its like that lampchops song. it never ends and goes on and on my friends..

 

[Rock Hydra]

Originally posted by: Colt45
sure, why not.

I like this logic.

 

[sao123]

Originally posted by: waggy
first i give credit to everyone that understood what he was talking about. one over infinity? sheesh


infinity is great. its like that lampchops song. it never ends and goes on and on my friends..

Sarcasm check...
testes... testes...
1...
2...
3???!?

you're meter is broken.

 

[txrandom]

1/infinity = 0 /thread

 

[JohnCU]

for all intents and purposes it is 0, atleast that's what we call it in my major. f the math people.