On Mon, Oct 12, 2020 at 8:07 AM Wes Turner <wes.tur...@gmail.com> wrote: > > So you're arguing that the scalar is irrelevant? > That `2*inf == inf`? > > I disagree because: > ```2*inf > inf```
On what basis? If you start by assuming that infinity is a number, then sure, you're going to deduce that double it must be a greater number. But you're just concluding your own assumption, not proving anything. > And: > > ```# Given that: > inf / inf = 1 Is that the case? >>> from math import inf >>> inf / inf nan > # When we solve for symbol x: > 2*inf*x = inf > 2*x = 1 > x = 1/2 > > # If we discard the scalar instead: > 2*inf*x = inf > inf*x = inf > x = 1 > > # I think it's specious to argue that there are infinity solutions; that > axioms of symbolic mathematics do not apply because infinity > ``` Once again, you start by assuming that infinity is a number, and that you can divide by it (which is what happens when you "solve for x" by removing the infinities). You can't prove something by first assuming it. "Infinity" isn't a number. In the IEEE 754 system, it is a value, but it's still not a number (although it's distinct from Not A Number, just to confuse everyone). In mathematics, it's definitely not an actual number or value. ChrisA _______________________________________________ Python-ideas mailing list -- python-ideas@python.org To unsubscribe send an email to python-ideas-le...@python.org https://mail.python.org/mailman3/lists/python-ideas.python.org/ Message archived at https://mail.python.org/archives/list/python-ideas@python.org/message/KQIE47XOK537LM6RUQ5REQA2JUJVYBLX/ Code of Conduct: http://python.org/psf/codeofconduct/
