Can you name something that is infinite and not infinite both at the same time?
2007-02-28 08:35:33 · 14 answers · asked by mrhaff 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
the number zero is theoretically infinate as it will continue for nothing will always exist in equations and life, but it is not infinate as it is the direct opposite of infinity itself.
2007-02-28 08:41:41 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Time. Time does not exist!
Time is divisible into 3 parts: the past, the present, and the future. The past is the moments that have at one time been present, and the future is the moments that will be present. So where is the present? Let's say that this year is the present, and all the years before are past, and all the years ahead are future. But we can further sub-divide this year. Let's say this week is present, and all the weeks prior are past and all the weeks to come are future. But we can continue the division to days, and hours, and seconds, and we're still not done. We still haven't found the 'present'.
The present, whatever it is, must be indivisible. If it is divisible, then it can be divided into past , present, and future; and that present can be further subdivided into past, present, and future, ad infinitum. So the present must be of infinitesimal duration, ie it has essentially no duration. But here we run across the problem of actual infinites. The Present cannot have an infinitely small duration. If it does, then there is an infinite number of moments of present between any two points. Here we run into a version of Xeno's paradox: it is impossible to ever traverse an infinite number of moments. So, the present does not exist. And since the past and the future are defined by the present, they don't exist either. Ultimately, time does not exist.
2007-02-28 23:31:12 · answer #2 · answered by Graham R 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Infinity seems to be a mathematical construct. Such as if you draw a circle then there is only one circle so it is not infinite. However mathematically it can be broken down into an infinite number of segments. A straight line could be shown to be made up of an infinite number of points.
I do not know of any real object in the world that has this property.
2007-02-28 09:32:41 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yup. The sum of infinite series, for example a_n=2^-n
from n=0 to infinity
It is infinite in the sense ths at there are infinitely many parts you have to add, but it is not infinite because it is equal to 2
2007-02-28 08:41:48 · answer #4 · answered by misiekram 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
A converging infinite series. An infinite number of terms and a finite sum.
2007-02-28 08:42:27 · answer #5 · answered by runningman022003 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are actually lots of things. Fractals are one example; take a look at the Mandelbrot set, and you'll find that its perimeter is infinite but its area is finite. A Moebius strip is another; it has an infinite edge length and surface length, but is finite in size.
2007-02-28 08:46:28 · answer #6 · answered by Grizzly B 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
An interesting paradox of infinite is the hotel room paradox presented by David Hilbert in the following link.
2007-02-28 18:32:31 · answer #7 · answered by nemesis 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Transfinite numbers are cardinal numbers or ordinal numbers that are larger than all finite numbers, yet not necessarily absolutely infinite.
2007-02-28 08:41:55 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Water.
It's on a constant recycle state, no matter what it's used for.
The water that exists on this planet is the same water that existed when the dinosaurs roamed the earth.
2007-02-28 08:43:51 · answer #9 · answered by trickyrick32 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
God. God is infinite and finite at the same time. He is also everywhere in all time and out side the limits of time.
2007-02-28 08:51:11 · answer #10 · answered by Hi T 7 · 0⤊ 3⤋