Re: A physics question about infinity

richard@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (Richard Tobin) wrote:
In article <20060425121535.984$yH@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>,
David W. Cantrell <DWCantrell@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

You're entitled to your opinion, of course. But I see virtually no
difference between the care which one must use when dealing with zero
and that which one must use when dealing with an infinity in an extended
number system. For example, corresponding to the example you gave:

For example, if y might be zero, you can't deduce x=1 from x*y=y.

Well, with zero, of the four simple arithmetic operations you only
have to worry about cancelling in multiplication;

In an extended system, with zero, I'd be loath to say that we don't have
to worry about cancelling in division. For example, if y might be zero,
you can't deduce x=1 from x/y=1/y.

with infinity you have to worry about all four.

Yes, what you have to be careful about with zero regarding
multiplication/division, you have to be careful about with infinity
regarding both multiplication/division and addition/subtraction. But
it seems like essentially the same sort of care in all those cases.
And we mathematicians are a careful sort anyway.

David
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: libCrun symbol "zero_ints"
    ... somewhat obvious answer that "zero_ints" simply initializes integer ... variables to zero. ... I guess the problem is I don't know if I care. ... values of SPARC registers at the time of the crash, ...
    (comp.unix.solaris)
  • Re: More number theory tidbits, paper?
    ... On Sun, 1 Aug 2004, James Harris wrote: ... >> How many odd composites less than N are divisible by 3? ... Why would I care, unless someone told me to derive it, as you did? ... close to zero in all cases. ...
    (sci.math)
  • Re: libCrun symbol "zero_ints"
    ... somewhat obvious answer that "zero_ints" simply initializes integer ... variables to zero. ... Why do you care? ...
    (comp.unix.solaris)
  • Re: quad
    ... After the news was broadcast by local radio the incidence of burgulary ... dropped to zero. ... I do not accept that a person has a duty of care to people who enter private ...
    (uk.business.agriculture)
  • Re: Top: Are you breaking your word now?
    ... If we stick to the subject of trucks, I have you beat 2 - 0 and I don't care ... I listen and I observe. ... I have proven you wrong TWICE now and you are still at ZERO. ... Now, if we just stayed on the subject of trucks, YOU ARE A BIG TIME LOOSER ...
    (misc.transport.trucking)