[ 3 / biz / cgl / ck / diy / fa / ic / jp / lit / sci / vr / vt ] [ index / top / reports ] [ become a patron ] [ status ]
2023-11: Warosu is now out of extended maintenance.

/sci/ - Science & Math

View post   
File: 44 KB, 387x256, infinity.jpg [View same] [iqdb] [saucenao] [google]
2459441 No.2459441 [Reply] [Original]

I got in an argument today with my Algebra II teacher. She shown us a graph modeled after a cubic polynomial equation and she said "The line continues on, closer and closer to infinity."

To which I inquired, "How can something be closer to infinity? If Infinity is always larger, no matter what number you have in mind, wouldn't, say, 5 and 0 be the same distance?"

She disagreed, as did the rest of my class. Although, I think the students were a victim of argument from authority. Who is correct? Myself or my teacher?

>> No.2459454

There's a difference between the literal interpretation of what someone says and what they obviously mean. You played the literalist so you could look smart in front of your class.

>> No.2459460

You're right, a number can APPROACH infinity, but it never gets closer. Your teacher was mistaken.

>> No.2459468

if a > b > c

b is always closer to a than c.

c cannot be closer to a than b because that would imply that c > b.

c cannot be the same distance to a as b, because that would imply that c = b.

I see no reason infinite quantities would not follow the same rules.

>> No.2459484

op is right, teacher is dumb, class is sheople

>> No.2459491

>>2459468

Infinity isn't a number, or a quantity.

>> No.2459495

>>2459460

oops I didn't mean number, meant function

>> No.2459507

>>2459454
It's a math class; you're supposed to be a literalist.

>> No.2459517

Infinity isn't really a number, so there's no well-defined notion of "distance from x to infinity" where x is a real number.

So, yeah, if you want to be pedantic, OP was right. But like someone just said, it's obvious what she meant, so you don't have to be such a smart ass.

>> No.2459525

OP - u are a symmantic fags

technically correct is only correct technically speaking

what next, if i am travelling at 99.9999% the speed of light, and another body is at rest, coz they are both the speed of light slower than the speed of light, they are same speed.

let me guess, you sit at the front of the class.

there is always one farker who sits at the front asking "smart" but farken dumb questions

this person is you

>> No.2459535

Even if people don't generally understand the concept of infinity, OP is a pedantic faggot.

>> No.2459539

Which infinity? There are infinitely many sizes of infinity.

>> No.2459554

>>2459517

Whether he was being pedantic or not, the fact that the MATH teacher was wrong and continued to argue even after a student corrected her. This shows that she really has no idea what she was talking about, and neither does the rest of the class.

>> No.2459564

>>2459539

There may be infinite cardinality of infinity, but we are talking about the limit of the real number line on the cartesian plane. That is infinite, and doesn't have cardinality.

>> No.2459561
File: 21 KB, 118x126, 1294630121261.jpg [View same] [iqdb] [saucenao] [google]
2459561

>>2459525

>what next, if i am travelling at 99.9999% the speed of light, and another body is at rest, coz they are both the speed of light slower than the speed of light, they are same speed.

>> No.2459560

You can approach infinity. I think that's what she meant.

Good luck in Calculus, OP.

>> No.2459565

>>2459539
infinity and beyond

>> No.2459572

>>2459441
So she showed you a very specific equation and claimed that in the equation the line continues and approaches infinity.

Tell us the equation and we can tell you who was wright. Certain equations contain functions playing with infinity.

>> No.2459577

>>2459525

You are an idiot, the speed of light is a known quantity, and a real number.

>> No.2459582

>Algebra II
>took that in high school
OP confirmed for underaged faggot.
Go to college, you pedantic asshole.

>> No.2459607

>>2459554
Don't get me wrong: I agree with you, but OP's not going to accomplish anything by acting like a smart ass in class. Unless the teacher is REALLY cool (and, let's face it, most HS teachers are shit) all the OP is going to do is annoy everyone.

>> No.2459609

>>2459582
your an idiot...just sayin

>> No.2459652

OP here. I wasn't trying to be a smart ass, I was just seriously curious.

And maybe she MEANT approach infinity. I dunno.

>> No.2459711

>>2459652

500 yen says she did, and you were being a smartass.

>> No.2459992
File: 13 KB, 446x361, 1291018999916.png [View same] [iqdb] [saucenao] [google]
2459992

>>2459577
exactly - and so is OP
read it.
but from my point of view, the light is travelling the speed of light faster.

you know what i meant.

>> No.2460011

>>2459525
>farken
>not a faggot

>> No.2460022

>She shown

laughinggirls.jpg

>> No.2460078

>>2460011
didnt want to type fuck

fuck you

feel better?

>> No.2460086

>>2459609

>your an idiot
>your
>idiot

>> No.2460103

1/infinite is smaller than 1/(infinite-1)