This is something that questions the existence of infinity, I think.
2006-07-30 01:50:08 · 22 answers · asked by Angst Line From Song 1 1 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
Infinity is not a thing, it is a mathematical concept of the limit of an endless series. It no more exists than does a perfect circle.
No mathematician would ever suggest that it does exist in reality, but both perfect circles and infinity exist as mathematical concepts, and are very useful in that context.
But yes, mathematically infinity -1 = infinity.
2006-07-30 02:12:15 · answer #1 · answered by the last ninja 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The books in an infinite library are without number, so it's meaningless to speak of there being a certain "number" of books before or after the removal.
Remember, infinity isn't a number. It's a mathematical concept. Mathemeticians find it to be a useful concept in making their calculations, so it's as "real" as it needs to be.
2006-07-30 08:07:19 · answer #2 · answered by Keither 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Infinity minus one still equals infinity. That's the basic concept behind infinity. If removing that one book (or any finite number of books for that matter) made a numerical difference, then by definition, the library is finite.
2006-07-30 07:24:52 · answer #3 · answered by 3kewenay3 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is impossible to borrow from an infinate library, as the book would require a return date, but being infinate, one could not be given, so the assistant would say the systems playing up at the moment, you'll have to try again later, at which point you would say, that could take forever...
2006-07-30 04:44:27 · answer #4 · answered by ben b 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think you mean a library with an infinite number of books. Not 100% sure of the answer. You might want to try and find out through an empirical method. Shouldn't take you long.
2006-07-30 01:59:37 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
An infinite thing is beyond finite and is endless, so the answer would be that whether you remove a book or not, there would still be an infinite number of books in the library.
2006-08-01 07:09:43 · answer #6 · answered by Sun is Shining ❂ 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Infinity is not a number, only a concept. So infinity - 3 is less than infinity.
2006-07-30 01:54:06 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Infinity minus one book would remain.
2006-07-30 07:19:52 · answer #8 · answered by Cobeck 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Infinity is not a number. Personally, i think infinity is an empty concept. I say there is, and can be, no infinity. Just try to imagine it.
2006-07-30 03:03:32 · answer #9 · answered by sauwelios@yahoo.com 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Infinite libraries do not exist, but that does not necessarily disprove infinity.
2006-07-30 02:01:21 · answer #10 · answered by chilixa 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋