Transfinite Numbers NY Math Circle Presentation by Martin Rudolph
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The Infinity Theorem Is Presented Stating That There Is at Least One Multivalued Series That Diverge to Infinity and Converge to Infinite Finite Values
Open Journal of Mathematics and Physics | Volume 2, Article 75, 2020 | ISSN: 2674-5747 https://doi.org/10.31219/osf.io/9zm6b | published: 4 Feb 2020 | https://ojmp.wordpress.com CX [microresearch] Diamond Open Access The infinity theorem Open Mathematics Collaboration∗† March 19, 2020 Abstract The infinity theorem is presented stating that there is at least one multivalued series that diverge to infinity and converge to infinite finite values. keywords: multivalued series, infinity theorem, infinite Introduction 1. 1, 2, 3, ..., ∞ 2. N =x{ N 1, 2,∞3,}... ∞ > ∈ = { } The infinity theorem 3. Theorem: There exists at least one divergent series that diverge to infinity and converge to infinite finite values. ∗All authors with their affiliations appear at the end of this paper. †Corresponding author: [email protected] | Join the Open Mathematics Collaboration 1 Proof 1 4. S 1 1 1 1 1 1 ... 2 [1] = − + − + − + = (a) 5. Sn 1 1 1 ... 1 has n terms. 6. S = lim+n + S+n + 7. A+ft=er app→ly∞ing the limit in (6), we have S 1 1 1 ... + 8. From (4) and (7), S S 2 = 0 + 2 + 0 + 2 ... 1 + 9. S 2 2 1 1 1 .+.. = + + + + + + 1 10. Fro+m (=7) (and+ (9+), S+ )2 2S . + +1 11. Using (6) in (10), limn+ =Sn 2 2 limn Sn. 1 →∞ →∞ 12. limn Sn 2 + = →∞ 1 13. From (6) a=nd (12), S 2. + 1 14. From (7) and (13), S = 1 1 1 ... 2. + = + + + = (b) 15. S 1 1 1 1 1 ... + 1 16. S =0 +1 +1 +1 +1 +1 1 .. -
The Modal Logic of Potential Infinity, with an Application to Free Choice
The Modal Logic of Potential Infinity, With an Application to Free Choice Sequences Dissertation Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy in the Graduate School of The Ohio State University By Ethan Brauer, B.A. ∼6 6 Graduate Program in Philosophy The Ohio State University 2020 Dissertation Committee: Professor Stewart Shapiro, Co-adviser Professor Neil Tennant, Co-adviser Professor Chris Miller Professor Chris Pincock c Ethan Brauer, 2020 Abstract This dissertation is a study of potential infinity in mathematics and its contrast with actual infinity. Roughly, an actual infinity is a completed infinite totality. By contrast, a collection is potentially infinite when it is possible to expand it beyond any finite limit, despite not being a completed, actual infinite totality. The concept of potential infinity thus involves a notion of possibility. On this basis, recent progress has been made in giving an account of potential infinity using the resources of modal logic. Part I of this dissertation studies what the right modal logic is for reasoning about potential infinity. I begin Part I by rehearsing an argument|which is due to Linnebo and which I partially endorse|that the right modal logic is S4.2. Under this assumption, Linnebo has shown that a natural translation of non-modal first-order logic into modal first- order logic is sound and faithful. I argue that for the philosophical purposes at stake, the modal logic in question should be free and extend Linnebo's result to this setting. I then identify a limitation to the argument for S4.2 being the right modal logic for potential infinity. -
Cantor on Infinity in Nature, Number, and the Divine Mind
Cantor on Infinity in Nature, Number, and the Divine Mind Anne Newstead Abstract. The mathematician Georg Cantor strongly believed in the existence of actually infinite numbers and sets. Cantor’s “actualism” went against the Aristote- lian tradition in metaphysics and mathematics. Under the pressures to defend his theory, his metaphysics changed from Spinozistic monism to Leibnizian volunta- rist dualism. The factor motivating this change was two-fold: the desire to avoid antinomies associated with the notion of a universal collection and the desire to avoid the heresy of necessitarian pantheism. We document the changes in Can- tor’s thought with reference to his main philosophical-mathematical treatise, the Grundlagen (1883) as well as with reference to his article, “Über die verschiedenen Standpunkte in bezug auf das aktuelle Unendliche” (“Concerning Various Perspec- tives on the Actual Infinite”) (1885). I. he Philosophical Reception of Cantor’s Ideas. Georg Cantor’s dis- covery of transfinite numbers was revolutionary. Bertrand Russell Tdescribed it thus: The mathematical theory of infinity may almost be said to begin with Cantor. The infinitesimal Calculus, though it cannot wholly dispense with infinity, has as few dealings with it as possible, and contrives to hide it away before facing the world Cantor has abandoned this cowardly policy, and has brought the skeleton out of its cupboard. He has been emboldened on this course by denying that it is a skeleton. Indeed, like many other skeletons, it was wholly dependent on its cupboard, and vanished in the light of day.1 1Bertrand Russell, The Principles of Mathematics (London: Routledge, 1992 [1903]), 304. -
Leibniz and the Infinite
Quaderns d’Història de l’Enginyeria volum xvi 2018 LEIBNIZ AND THE INFINITE Eberhard Knobloch [email protected] 1.-Introduction. On the 5th (15th) of September, 1695 Leibniz wrote to Vincentius Placcius: “But I have so many new insights in mathematics, so many thoughts in phi- losophy, so many other literary observations that I am often irresolutely at a loss which as I wish should not perish1”. Leibniz’s extraordinary creativity especially concerned his handling of the infinite in mathematics. He was not always consistent in this respect. This paper will try to shed new light on some difficulties of this subject mainly analysing his treatise On the arithmetical quadrature of the circle, the ellipse, and the hyperbola elaborated at the end of his Parisian sojourn. 2.- Infinitely small and infinite quantities. In the Parisian treatise Leibniz introduces the notion of infinitely small rather late. First of all he uses descriptions like: ad differentiam assignata quavis minorem sibi appropinquare (to approach each other up to a difference that is smaller than any assigned difference)2, differat quantitate minore quavis data (it differs by a quantity that is smaller than any given quantity)3, differentia data quantitate minor reddi potest (the difference can be made smaller than a 1 “Habeo vero tam multa nova in Mathematicis, tot cogitationes in Philosophicis, tot alias litterarias observationes, quas vellem non perire, ut saepe inter agenda anceps haeream.” (LEIBNIZ, since 1923: II, 3, 80). 2 LEIBNIZ (2016), 18. 3 Ibid., 20. 11 Eberhard Knobloch volum xvi 2018 given quantity)4. Such a difference or such a quantity necessarily is a variable quantity. -
Transfinite Function Interaction and Surreal Numbers
ADVANCES IN APPLIED MATHEMATICS 18, 333]350Ž. 1997 ARTICLE NO. AM960513 Transfinite Function Iteration and Surreal Numbers W. A. Beyer and J. D. Louck Theoretical Di¨ision, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Mail Stop B284, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545 Received August 25, 1996 Louck has developed a relation between surreal numbers up to the first transfi- nite ordinal v and aspects of iterated trapezoid maps. In this paper, we present a simple connection between transfinite iterates of the inverse of the tent map and the class of all the surreal numbers. This connection extends Louck's work to all surreal numbers. In particular, one can define the arithmetic operations of addi- tion, multiplication, division, square roots, etc., of transfinite iterates by conversion of them to surreal numbers. The extension is done by transfinite induction. Inverses of other unimodal onto maps of a real interval could be considered and then the possibility exists of obtaining different structures for surreal numbers. Q 1997 Academic Press 1. INTRODUCTION In this paper, we assume the reader is familiar with the interesting topic of surreal numbers, invented by Conway and first presented in book form in Conwaywx 3 and Knuth wx 6 . In this paper we follow the development given in Gonshor's bookwx 4 which is quite different from that of Conway and Knuth. Inwx 10 , a relation was shown between surreal numbers up to the first transfinite ordinal v and aspects of iterated maps of the intervalwx 0, 2 . In this paper, we specialize the results inwx 10 to the graph of the nth iterate of the inverse tent map and extend the results ofwx 10 to all the surreal numbers. -
Measuring Fractals by Infinite and Infinitesimal Numbers
MEASURING FRACTALS BY INFINITE AND INFINITESIMAL NUMBERS Yaroslav D. Sergeyev DEIS, University of Calabria, Via P. Bucci, Cubo 42-C, 87036 Rende (CS), Italy, N.I. Lobachevsky State University, Nizhni Novgorod, Russia, and Institute of High Performance Computing and Networking of the National Research Council of Italy http://wwwinfo.deis.unical.it/∼yaro e-mail: [email protected] Abstract. Traditional mathematical tools used for analysis of fractals allow one to distinguish results of self-similarity processes after a finite number of iterations. For example, the result of procedure of construction of Cantor’s set after two steps is different from that obtained after three steps. However, we are not able to make such a distinction at infinity. It is shown in this paper that infinite and infinitesimal numbers proposed recently allow one to measure results of fractal processes at different iterations at infinity too. First, the new technique is used to measure at infinity sets being results of Cantor’s proce- dure. Second, it is applied to calculate the lengths of polygonal geometric spirals at different points of infinity. 1. INTRODUCTION During last decades fractals have been intensively studied and applied in various fields (see, for instance, [4, 11, 5, 7, 12, 20]). However, their mathematical analysis (except, of course, a very well developed theory of fractal dimensions) very often continues to have mainly a qualitative character and there are no many tools for a quantitative analysis of their behavior after execution of infinitely many steps of a self-similarity process of construction. Usually, we can measure fractals in a way and can give certain numerical answers to questions regarding fractals only if a finite number of steps in the procedure of their construction has been executed. -
A Child Thinking About Infinity
A Child Thinking About Infinity David Tall Mathematics Education Research Centre University of Warwick COVENTRY CV4 7AL Young children’s thinking about infinity can be fascinating stories of extrapolation and imagination. To capture the development of an individual’s thinking requires being in the right place at the right time. When my youngest son Nic (then aged seven) spoke to me for the first time about infinity, I was fortunate to be able to tape-record the conversation for later reflection on what was happening. It proved to be a fascinating document in which he first treated infinity as a very large number and used his intuitions to think about various arithmetic operations on infinity. He also happened to know about “minus numbers” from earlier experiences with temperatures in centigrade. It was thus possible to ask him not only about arithmetic with infinity, but also about “minus infinity”. The responses were thought-provoking and amazing in their coherent relationships to his other knowledge. My research in studying infinite concepts in older students showed me that their ideas were influenced by their prior experiences. Almost always the notion of “limit” in some dynamic sense was met before the notion of one to one correspondences between infinite sets. Thus notions of “variable size” had become part of their intuition that clashed with the notion of infinite cardinals. For instance, Tall (1980) reported a student who considered that the limit of n2/n! was zero because the top is a “smaller infinity” than the bottom. It suddenly occurred to me that perhaps I could introduce Nic to the concept of cardinal infinity to see what this did to his intuitions. -
Galileo and Leibniz: Different Approaches to Infinity
Arch. Hist. Exact Sci. 54 (1999) 87–99. c Springer-Verlag 1999 Galileo and Leibniz: Different Approaches to Infinity Eberhard Knobloch Communicated by J. J. Gray Introduction “God exists since mathematics is consistent, and the devil exists since we cannot prove it.” In this way Andre´ Weil, one of the leading mathematicians of this century, characterized the mathematics of our time (Meschkowski 1969, p. 112; Rosenbloom 1950, p. 72). This connection between mathematics, God and the devil is not new: I would like to recall here only the study scene in Goethe’s Faust: Faust has the devil temporarily in his hand, because the pentagram is badly drawn. What is new in Weil’s saying is the insight that even mathematics cannot provide complete foundations for itself. Metamathematics and Hilbert’s proof theory are disciplines of our century. When Hilbert set about showing how the antinomies of the set theory created by Cantor could be avoided without betraying mathematics, as described in his lecture “On the Infinite” in 1925, he emphasized the necessity of clarifying the nature of the infinite (Hilbert 1926, p. 188). The infinite plays a crucial role in analysis, this most ingenious product of mathematical science, being ramified in the most refined way. As Hilbert fittingly formulated, mathematical analysis is, so to speak, a pure symphony on the infinite (Hilbert 1926, p. 184). No wonder that three years after Hilbert’s lecture his pupil Hermann Weyl character- ized mathematics as the science of the infinite (Weyl 1925–1927, p. 1; Laugwitz 1986, p. 233). He thus defined mathematics in a completely different way than his predecessors of earlier centuries. -
Calculus Terminology
AP Calculus BC Calculus Terminology Absolute Convergence Asymptote Continued Sum Absolute Maximum Average Rate of Change Continuous Function Absolute Minimum Average Value of a Function Continuously Differentiable Function Absolutely Convergent Axis of Rotation Converge Acceleration Boundary Value Problem Converge Absolutely Alternating Series Bounded Function Converge Conditionally Alternating Series Remainder Bounded Sequence Convergence Tests Alternating Series Test Bounds of Integration Convergent Sequence Analytic Methods Calculus Convergent Series Annulus Cartesian Form Critical Number Antiderivative of a Function Cavalieri’s Principle Critical Point Approximation by Differentials Center of Mass Formula Critical Value Arc Length of a Curve Centroid Curly d Area below a Curve Chain Rule Curve Area between Curves Comparison Test Curve Sketching Area of an Ellipse Concave Cusp Area of a Parabolic Segment Concave Down Cylindrical Shell Method Area under a Curve Concave Up Decreasing Function Area Using Parametric Equations Conditional Convergence Definite Integral Area Using Polar Coordinates Constant Term Definite Integral Rules Degenerate Divergent Series Function Operations Del Operator e Fundamental Theorem of Calculus Deleted Neighborhood Ellipsoid GLB Derivative End Behavior Global Maximum Derivative of a Power Series Essential Discontinuity Global Minimum Derivative Rules Explicit Differentiation Golden Spiral Difference Quotient Explicit Function Graphic Methods Differentiable Exponential Decay Greatest Lower Bound Differential -
Plotinus on the Soul's Omnipresence in Body
Plotinus on the Limitation of Act by Potency Gary M. Gurtler, S.J. Boston College The limitation of act by potency, central in the metaphysics of Thomas Aquinas, has its origins in Plotinus. He transforms Aristotle’s horizontal causality of change into a vertical causality of participation. Potency and infinity are not just unintelligible lack of limit, but productive power. Form determines matter but is limited by reception into matter. The experience of unity begins with sensible things, which always have parts, so what is really one is incorporeal, without division and separation. Unity is like the esse of Thomas, since it is the act that makes a thing what it is and has its fullness in God. 1. Introduction Over fifty years ago Norris Clarke, S.J., published “The Limitation of Act by Potency: Aristotelianism or Neoplatonism,” The New Scholasticism, 26 (1952) 167–194, which highlighted the role of Plotinus in formulating some of the fundamental distinctions operative in medieval philosophy. He singled out the doctrine of participation and the idea of infinity and showed how they went beyond the limits of classical Greek thought. At the same time, his work challenged some of the basic historical assumptions of Thomists about the relation of scholastic philosophy, especially St. Thomas’s, to Plato and Aristotle. I have appreciated more and more the unusual openness and self critical character of Fr. Clarke’s historical method, and am pleased to have the chance in this response to Sarah Borden’s paper to explore some of the issues raised by Fr. Clarke’s seminal article in light of my own work on Plotinus. -
Attributes of Infinity
International Journal of Applied Physics and Mathematics Attributes of Infinity Kiamran Radjabli* Utilicast, La Jolla, California, USA. * Corresponding author. Email: [email protected] Manuscript submitted May 15, 2016; accepted October 14, 2016. doi: 10.17706/ijapm.2017.7.1.42-48 Abstract: The concept of infinity is analyzed with an objective to establish different infinity levels. It is proposed to distinguish layers of infinity using the diverging functions and series, which transform finite numbers to infinite domain. Hyper-operations of iterated exponentiation establish major orders of infinity. It is proposed to characterize the infinity by three attributes: order, class, and analytic value. In the first order of infinity, the infinity class is assessed based on the “analytic convergence” of the Riemann zeta function. Arithmetic operations in infinity are introduced and the results of the operations are associated with the infinity attributes. Key words: Infinity, class, order, surreal numbers, divergence, zeta function, hyperpower function, tetration, pentation. 1. Introduction Traditionally, the abstract concept of infinity has been used to generically designate any extremely large result that cannot be measured or determined. However, modern mathematics attempts to introduce new concepts to address the properties of infinite numbers and operations with infinities. The system of hyperreal numbers [1], [2] is one of the approaches to define infinite and infinitesimal quantities. The hyperreals (a.k.a. nonstandard reals) *R, are an extension of the real numbers R that contains numbers greater than anything of the form 1 + 1 + … + 1, which is infinite number, and its reciprocal is infinitesimal. Also, the set theory expands the concept of infinity with introduction of various orders of infinity using ordinal numbers. -
Georg Cantor English Version
GEORG CANTOR (March 3, 1845 – January 6, 1918) by HEINZ KLAUS STRICK, Germany There is hardly another mathematician whose reputation among his contemporary colleagues reflected such a wide disparity of opinion: for some, GEORG FERDINAND LUDWIG PHILIPP CANTOR was a corruptor of youth (KRONECKER), while for others, he was an exceptionally gifted mathematical researcher (DAVID HILBERT 1925: Let no one be allowed to drive us from the paradise that CANTOR created for us.) GEORG CANTOR’s father was a successful merchant and stockbroker in St. Petersburg, where he lived with his family, which included six children, in the large German colony until he was forced by ill health to move to the milder climate of Germany. In Russia, GEORG was instructed by private tutors. He then attended secondary schools in Wiesbaden and Darmstadt. After he had completed his schooling with excellent grades, particularly in mathematics, his father acceded to his son’s request to pursue mathematical studies in Zurich. GEORG CANTOR could equally well have chosen a career as a violinist, in which case he would have continued the tradition of his two grandmothers, both of whom were active as respected professional musicians in St. Petersburg. When in 1863 his father died, CANTOR transferred to Berlin, where he attended lectures by KARL WEIERSTRASS, ERNST EDUARD KUMMER, and LEOPOLD KRONECKER. On completing his doctorate in 1867 with a dissertation on a topic in number theory, CANTOR did not obtain a permanent academic position. He taught for a while at a girls’ school and at an institution for training teachers, all the while working on his habilitation thesis, which led to a teaching position at the university in Halle.