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Author Topic:   A definition of infinity?
dogrelata
Member (Idle past 5312 days)
Posts: 201
From: Scotland
Joined: 08-04-2006


Message 1 of 2 (371942)
12-24-2006 7:34 AM


I’m interested in the idea of infinity, but like many others, struggle with some of the concepts involved. Further, if I look up the dictionary or encyclopedia, I see there are numerous definitions or ”understandings’ offered.
As such, I’d like to explore one aspect only, using a simple hypothetical example.
Imagine I’m walking along and come to a piece of string stretched across my path. At this point, if I choose to follow the path of this string, one definition of infinity might be that I could follow it forever, in either direction, and never reach the end, or return to the point I started at, unless I decide to stop and retrace my steps. However, if I choose to take a knife and cut the string, do I have the same definition of infinity? Sure, I can set of in one direction and carry on forever, but if I decide to retrace my steps at any point, I will eventually return to the point I started from, the ”end’ of the string, making it finite in one direction, if not the other.
I don’t know if I’m making any sense, but can the second scenario be considered to be an example of infinity?

AdminNem
Inactive Member


Message 2 of 2 (371996)
12-24-2006 12:07 PM


Thread copied to the A definition of infinity? thread in the Is It Science? forum, this copy of the thread has been closed.

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