Does negative infinity plus infinity equal zero?!!?

Question

I've been thinking about this question, for a couple of seconds, i 'm wonderin' if infinity, the opposite of negative infinity added together equals zero.( Since the abosulute values added together equal zero). Thanks 4 hlpin' me figure this out!!!

Answer 1

I think a better way to look at this question is in terms of limits. For example, as x gets infinitely large, the function f(x) = x also gets infinitely large, while g(x) = -x gets infinitely small. In fact, if you add the sum of these two limits, you'll get zero - in other words, as x approaches infinity, then f(x) + g(x) = 0, where f(x) = x and g(x) = -x.

However, that's just one example. If we change the f(x) function to f(x) = 2x, then f(x) + g(x) will approach infinity as x approaches infiniity.

So, when two functions with infinite limits are added, they may cancel out to zero, they may give you a finite but non-zero value, or the limit may be infinite. In other words, you can get just about anything as the answer - and that's the whole point to calling any value "undefined".

Answer 2

Infinity Plus Infinity

Answer 3

Negative Infinity

Answer 4

No. Infinity isn't a number, and (in general) it doesn't work like one.

The best answer is that negative infinity plus infinity is "indeterminate." Some examples might be useful here.

Consider the functions f(x) = x^2 and g(x) = -x. As x approaches infinity, f(x) approaches infinity, and g(x) approaches negative infinity. However, f(x) + g(x) is x^2 - x, which approaches infinity (not zero) as x approaches infinity.

Consider the functions p(x) = x + 7 and q(x) = -x. As x approaches infinity, p(x) approaches infinity, and q(x) approaches negative infinity. However, p(x) + q(x) is 7, which certainly approaches 7 (not zero) as x approaches infinity.

By selecting appropriate ways of getting infinity, then, we can make negative infinity plus infinity equal anything we want (it could equal infinity, negative infinity, or any real number). That's why it's called "indeterminate."

Answer 5

Sorry to say this but infinity is not actually a number as numbers don t stop. You could go past infinity without even knowing it cause numbers go on forever. There is no end. Thats the same with negative numbers aswell

Answer 6

First off, it's not a good idea to treat negative infinity and infinity as numbers. That is, it's not a good idea to casually add them, subtract them, multiply them, and so forth as if they were numbers, because they're not; they're concepts.

The concept of infinity exists in the topic of limits in Calculus. When used in this context, negative infinity plus infinity is in the same topic as "infinity minus infinity", and is known as an indeterminate form. The limit of the indeterminate form infinity minus infinity will either (1) stay infinity or negative infinity, or
(2) become some value (such as 0).

But yeah; you can't just casually treat infinity like a number when it's not.

Answer 7

not really zero all the time

imagine that you have a pile of sand which has so much sand that we consider as infinity. Then you remove some from that pile, which can be considered as infinity too. It maybe zero, a non-zero real number or even another infinity

in limit (maths), we have undeterminate form : inf - inf
when we find the limit of a function which has that form, we can see that the limit can be inf or a real number, not always is a zero

Answer 8

I'm convinced that students are told about infinity before they know how to use it.

When I taught a remedial algebra class at a state university, I remember telling them that I was about to show them the first legitimate use of infinity. It was for compound interest as the number of compounding periods in a year went to infiinity.

You can't treat infinity as a number, in most cases.

Answer 9

The answer is undefined. It's not zero, it's not negative infinity, it's not positive infinity, it's not anything in between. It's like a tug-of war. Both sides are infinitely large. Before you can figure out which side would win, you have do define how large each side is, and that's where you get stuck. It devolves into a never-ending game of

"Infinity!"

"Oh yeah? Infinity plus one!"

"Infinity plus a million!"

"Infinity plus a million billion zillion!"

And so on.

Answer 10

no, there is no tangible number named infinity. infinity is a concept, stating that the number lines go on forever. it isn't an actual number.

what your saying is if you have all negative numbers added to all of their positive counterparts then indeed it would equal zero, but you cant add or subtract or have a negative infinity.