If a nnumber like 1.3 repeating goes on forever, how do you get to 2?

Question

since 1.333333 etc. will never stop, 2 won't be coming around the corner for...like, ever

Omg I feel so dumb compared to all of you smart people!

Answer 1

I think your referring to how would you count from 1 to 2 including all the numbers between.

Thats impossible. The real line is not countable.

Based on your question i would assume you wont understand the nitty gritty.

Just understand that you cant count your way from 1 to 2 with everything inbetween

Answer 2

Yes, you are right. If you count as follows,

1.3
1.33
1.333
1.3333
1.33333
1.333333
1.3333333
...

Then the sequence is infinite and yes, counting this way, you will never reach 2.

In fact, it is shocking to know that the number of mathematical points between 1.3 and 1.33 is the same as the number of mathematical points between 1 and 2 or 1 and 100, or a bigger range.

You can show a 1-to-1 correspondance between two lines of different lengths by projecting their end points together such that they meet at a point. So, any point on the longer line will have a corresponding point on the shorter line, when you connected it to the point of intersection. Both lines have infinite points.

Answer 3

try looking at it this way:
get a piece of paper and start numbering from top down, 1, 2, 3,.... to 10. then between 1 and 2 ....you write 1.33333 across the page. 1.3333... can go on forever and never get to 2. just tried to help

Answer 4

1.9 repeating will eventually reach 2 in the limit. 1.3 repeating approaches 4/3 in the limit.

Answer 5

The 1.3333 is not growing, it's merely expanding the decimal places. By the same token, 1.0000000000000 repeating forever is still just one.

Answer 6

You don't count by adding additional decimals. By definition, counting involves a discrete number set usually natural numbers, which do not involve decimals at all.

Answer 7

round the 3 's up genius

Answer 8

You add .6 repeating
It's as close as you can get to 2.

Answer 9

You don't.
1.3... =/= 2.

We count with rounded real numbers.

Answer 10

The number exists--it's a value, you don't have to write it down for it to be there.

You could write this one as a fraction. Or you could call it "Fred."