Our server costs ~$56 per month to run. Please consider donating or becoming a Patron to help keep the site running. Help us gain new members by following us on Twitter and liking our page on Facebook!
Current time: March 29, 2024, 4:35 am

Thread Rating:
  • 0 Vote(s) - 0 Average
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
Adding infinitesimals
#11
RE: Adding infinitesimals
(March 15, 2016 at 4:06 am)BrianSoddingBoru4 Wrote: two infinitesimals + two infinitesimals = four infinitesimals

Easy peasy.

Boru

You'd still get an infinitesimal; I guess that one would need to "sum" (integrate) an infinite number of infinitesimals to get a finite number?
Reply
#12
RE: Adding infinitesimals
(March 15, 2016 at 7:45 am)Jehanne Wrote:
(March 15, 2016 at 4:06 am)BrianSoddingBoru4 Wrote: two infinitesimals + two infinitesimals = four infinitesimals

Easy peasy.

Boru

You'd still get an infinitesimal; I guess that one would need to "sum" (integrate) an infinite number of infinitesimals to get a finite number?

That's pretty much what an integral is, yes.
The fool hath said in his heart, There is a God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.
Psalm 14, KJV revised edition

Reply
#13
RE: Adding infinitesimals
(March 15, 2016 at 7:46 am)Alex K Wrote:
(March 15, 2016 at 7:45 am)Jehanne Wrote: You'd still get an infinitesimal; I guess that one would need to "sum" (integrate) an infinite number of infinitesimals to get a finite number?

That's pretty much what an integral is, yes.

Thanks; that makes the concept much clearer.  When I first took calculus 30 years ago, the class was not taught with infinitesimals; in fact, they weren't even mentioned.
Reply
#14
RE: Adding infinitesimals
(March 15, 2016 at 5:08 am)robvalue Wrote: Please let me know if what I've written isn't clear, and I'll do some diagrams or a video or something Smile

Don't get WLC started.
Reply
#15
RE: Adding infinitesimals
(March 15, 2016 at 7:56 am)Jehanne Wrote:
(March 15, 2016 at 7:46 am)Alex K Wrote: That's pretty much what an integral is, yes.

Thanks; that makes the concept much clearer.  When I first took calculus 30 years ago, the class was not taught with infinitesimals; in fact, they weren't even mentioned.

Maybe not exactly in this form, on usually talks about Leibniz's differentials dx or whatever you want to call them. You must have used the Leibniz calculus df/dx and all that in differentiation and integration, right?
The fool hath said in his heart, There is a God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.
Psalm 14, KJV revised edition

Reply
#16
RE: Adding infinitesimals
You're welcome Smile

Calculus has a lot to do with limits of things approaching zero, both for differentiating and integrating.

For example, differentiating a function is done by [lim h tend to 0 ]( (f(x+h) - f(x)) / h )

You're calculating a tangent at a particular point by taking an approximate tangent extremely close by at the point x+h, and then allowing h to shrink right down to zero.

Maths has always been one of my passions!
Feel free to send me a private message.
Please visit my website here! It's got lots of information about atheism/theism and support for new atheists.

Index of useful threads and discussions
Index of my best videos
Quickstart guide to the forum
Reply
#17
RE: Adding infinitesimals
Rob says "trapeziums", my mind goes to the Flying Wallendas and I hear calliope circus music in my head. (sigh)
I don't have an anger problem, I have an idiot problem.
Reply
#18
RE: Adding infinitesimals
Hehe.

Maybe it should be trapizii?

No! It's trapezia, apparently.
Feel free to send me a private message.
Please visit my website here! It's got lots of information about atheism/theism and support for new atheists.

Index of useful threads and discussions
Index of my best videos
Quickstart guide to the forum
Reply
#19
RE: Adding infinitesimals
(March 15, 2016 at 8:47 am)robvalue Wrote: Hehe.

Maybe it should be trapizii?

No! It's trapezia, apparently.

Trapezoids, we Yanks say
How will we know, when the morning comes, we are still human? - 2D

Don't worry, my friend.  If this be the end, then so shall it be.
Reply
#20
RE: Adding infinitesimals
Now those do sound like robot acrobats Tongue
Feel free to send me a private message.
Please visit my website here! It's got lots of information about atheism/theism and support for new atheists.

Index of useful threads and discussions
Index of my best videos
Quickstart guide to the forum
Reply





Users browsing this thread: 1 Guest(s)