this post was submitted on 27 Oct 2025
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyperreal_number
Infinite numbers are numbers. Infinity is not a real number, but it is a hyperreal number, and thus a number.
Just because the concept of infinite numbers exists, still doesn't mean that the concept of Infinity is itself a number
Why do you believe that? We can potentially fix that if you explain your reasoning, and I can point out the issue with it, since hyperreal numbers are not the only set of numbers that contain infinity, but was an easy example to show it.
Why do you believe it is the same? As in: isn't this more of a philosophical question?
You could even go one back and ask if infinite numbers are a useful/practical/sensical concept in themselves.
Infinities are a beast by themselves, and, to go back to the meme: Definitely do not belong in the big number club!!! 😉
That wasn't an answer. That was a deflection. Why do you think infinity isn't a number? A lot of people are told this in middle school and high school mathematics, and it is true that infinity is not a real number, but this can lead to the misconception that infinity isn't a number.
But... Infinity has many practical applications, the least of which are limits, differentiation, and integrals in calculus, as well as its opposite infinitesimals. There are many scientific and engineering principles that rely on these mathematical functions. That's a silly thing to think :p
I wish I could say that I was surprised, but to those not mired in mathematical sophistry... infinity is the furthest concept from a number... it has no known practical use, renders numerical comparisons and operations meaningless, and destroys all numbers to which it comes into contact. If anything, I would sooner accept that it is an anti-number. :)
Infinity ain't a number though, it's a concept
What about infinity +1
Well done you just invented ordinals
The awful handegg team from Arizona or the pretty good stickball outfit from St Louis?
Nah, you're confusing them with the highest ranking navy position
That's a slightly bigger concept.
All numbers are concepts.
All numbers are concepts
But some numbers are more conceptual
And infinity still isn't a number
Misleading, at best, factually incorrect at worst.
Infinity is a number, unless your problem is that the indefinite article was there, but it is a number.
When did I say that?
Monday, October 27th, 2025 at 9:16:42 AM GMT-05:00
Not seeing it. Maybe you could quote me saying that?
Right there, above the red line.
Yes, but not all concepts are numbers
Exactly! The disqualifier for infinity isn't the fact that it's a concept, it's because it doesn't behave like a number.
Ah okay: Infinity is a concept, but is NOT a measurable quantity or unit and thus is not a number
Well said. Another example is (infinity)+1=(infinity)
If you subtract infinity from both sides you're left with 1=0. Which is impossible. Similar things happen with multiplication and division.