0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.
If you integrate two infinities
two infinities which canceled each other out
The idea of infinity is a sophisticated one and it is very often bandied about with a great lack of understanding.
But, as to having infinities of 'different sizes': Imagine adding a series of numbers together1+2+3+4+5 +++++ and keep going as long as you wanted, and a bit longer - 'for ever'. That would give you what we would call 'infinity'.Then you added up the squares of the numbers:1+4+9+16+25 ++++++ and keep going for the same length of time.The second total would always be bigger than the first total.
Both totals would be 'infinity', if you keep on for ever but the second total would always be a lot more than the first total.
So there you have the idea of infinities of different sizes.There are many cases where you can 'compare infinities' which are, on their own, incomprehensible, but the ratio of the two can have a meaning.Infinity is definitely not for the squeamish or the unwary but lots of my whacky Mathematician friends get very excited about it.
ifninities