We are embarking on a part of the course that deals with infinity — that is, with sequences (infinite lists of numbers) and series (infinite sums of numbers). We are studying this idea in a rigorous mathematical way, but it is a concept that is important in many non-mathematical areas – religion, philosophy, art, and many more. Almost every child, from shortly after they learn to count, has some idea of infinity.
Assignment (due Monday, October 28): Create a new blog post about one (or more) of the topics below. Creating a new blog post allows you more flexibility than simply leaving a comment. You have the ability to edit your work after you submit it, and to include photos and other media. It also allows you to contribute to the public content of our course website. Detailed instructions on creating a new blog post can be found here (you can watch the screencast, or read the instructions below). You should create a new blog post including the following:
- The title should include the word “Infinity”.
- Your post should consist of two to three paragraphs in response to the topic (or topics) you choose below.
- You must take a photo that illustrates the idea of infinity in some way, and include the photo in your post (cell phone cameras are fine!). Your photo MUST be taken by you (no using photos from the internet or elsewhere). For information on including a photo in your post, see this help page on Adding Images and Other Media.
- Your post should also explain the photo – what is the connection to infinity? Creative connections are just fine.
- Under Categories, select “Infinity Assignment”
Topics. Choose either ONE or TWO of the following topics.
- What is infinity? Explain in your own words.
- Who first introduced you to the idea of infinity? How old were you? How did this new idea make you feel?
- Describe either a conversation you had about infinity or an argument you had about infinity. Give us the details!
- Find a reference to infinity in popular culture (a song, a movie, a product, a book, etc.). What does infinity mean in this context? Does is mean the same thing that it means in mathematics? Explain. (Include a link to the pop culture item in your post).
- Is infinity an important idea in your religion? Do you think that infinity in a religious setting refers to the same idea as infinity in mathematics? Why or why not?
Extra Credit. For extra credit, leave a comment on someone else’s post. Does it remind you of something from your own experience? Do you agree or disagree? Find something to say about it!
Domain Expansion, Infinite Void
The way I see it infinity can be defined as something that is limitless. Anything that has a starting point, that doesn’t have an end point. Something that is always continuous growing to a limitless extent.
The first person who really opened my eyes to the concept of infinity is a manga artist who goes by the name of Gege Akutami, the author of the manga Jujutsu Kaisen. I was 16 years old when I first came to really understand the concept of infinity. When I started to grasp just how vast infinity really is, I was in shock. He created this charted who goes by Gojo Saturo, and one of his abilities named “Infinite Void.” This ability forces whoever Gojo’s target is to learn an infinite limitless information leaving some with brain damage and others feeling overwhelmed. When I started to understand it better I was left in awe.
I can’t find the make a post button but I was gonna upload a picture of sand from the beach because no matter where you attempt to start counting from there’s an infinite amount of sand in the picture.
Hi Ethan, Thanks for your responding. For this assignment, I’d like you to create a new post (instead of leaving a comment) — take a look at the assignment instructions for details about creating a new blog post, and feel free to copy/paste your comment into your post. Let me know if you run into any problems.
I agree with your post! Your example from Jujutsu Kaisen reminded me of learning about infinity in school seeing numbers that never end felt both exciting and overwhelming. I agree that stories like Gojo’s ‘Infinite Void’ make the concept feel more real, showing just how powerful and limitless infinity can be.
Although the concept of infinity is used to connect the realms of mathematics and reality, it is not real and cannot exist. Rather than being a physical number that we can directly measure or work with, infinity is frequently used in mathematics and physics to explain processes, limitations, and behaviors.
I first came across infinity when I was researching physics and the impossibility of reaching the speed of light, In short, it would take an infinite amount of time or fuel to reach the speed of light. Infinity serves as a boundary between mathematical ideas and reality. Limits are one mathematical concept that can be used to approach infinity, where values continuously go closer to a point, but never get there. This idea is fundamental to calculus and to comprehending seemingly limitless phenomena like asymptotic behaviors or exponential development.
Infinity frequently appears in physics when models run into extreme situations, such as black hole singularities, where gravity becomes infinitely powerful, or when taking into account the limitless energy needed to travel at the speed of light. In this context, infinity defines the boundaries of human knowledge and indicates places where existing physical rules may fail or require modification.
Therefore, infinity serves as a boundary—a link between the physical world and mathematical abstraction. Even when the idea itself is still abstract and unreachable, it allows us to model and comprehend systems within a framework. Infinity acts as a reminder of the potential and limitations of human knowledge.
Hi Jacky, Thanks for responding. For this assignment, I’d like you to create a new post (instead of leaving a comment) — take a look at the assignment instructions for details about creating a new blog post, and feel free to copy/paste your comment into your post. Let me know if you run into any problems.
Infinite is the concept of something that never ends. There is no limit after starting, it is impossible to measure or can’t reach the endpoint. In math, what we think about the number is going the infinite amount that going forever. For example, we start to count 1,2,3,4,5, and going on that never ends for counting for an infinite amount. The endless number continues meaning the infinite number.
Time is one of the limitless that going on forever. We are counting with seconds, minutes, hours, days, months, years, and centuries but there have never been time because it is limitless. Counting the time is to remember such as memory and history. In my own experience, I traveled to every town famous in my country every summer with my grandpa and grandmom. My grandfather drove the car while my grandmother took care of me because I was too young at that time. I have many happy memories with them and it is very unforgotten memories for me. The memories are remembered to me limitless time or forever. So the memories connect the feeling and that feeling connects to the time that missing the past’s happiness in this present moment and our future.
In math, the way we can’t add, subtract, or divide the number because the number is going the infinity. For example, we divided 1 by 3 shows us, 0.33333 in the quotient and there is no ending. Therefore infinity is limitless that never-ending point and it is impossible to calculate to know the end point.
To me infinity is a concept of forever. It is boundless with no limitations. Infinity reaches forever, which is a concept that still hold many mysteries. It is seen in mathematics, theories in physics, and sometimes even astronomy. For example, the infinite cosmos, and Einstein’s theory of infinite time and space.
My first time being introduced to the concept of infinity was when I was in elementary school. When I was a kid, I asked my teacher “what is the last number in the number line,” the teacher responded “its something called infinity.” This was my first time hearing such a thing. Infinity? That doesn’t sound like a number at all. As I grew older and I learned more mathematics, I discovered that infinity wasn’t a number at all. It was a concept.
In high school, infinity was often discussed a lot. Especially in precalculus and calculus. At that age I was around 16-17. I believe my high school precalculus teacher discussed the topic of infinity with us when discussing about limits. This idea fascinated me as infinity could be applied to numerous amount of things. This applied in astronomy when it is said the universe is infinitely expanding. In my eyes infinity is an interesting concept because its interpretation in other fields is also infinite. Such concept sprouts other concepts that brings even more questions in the field of science.
Imagine you have a magical bag that you can pull candy from forever. No matter how much you take out, there’s always more inside, endlessly replenishing itself. That’s what infinity is like—it’s something that never runs out, never ends.Or think about climbing an endless staircase. You can keep climbing, step after step, forever and never reach the top. Infinity is like that staircase: no matter how far you go, there’s always another step.Infinity just goes on and on, so in some strange way, starting from anywhere in infinity is the same as starting from the beginning.
A popular reference to infinity that many people know is from *Toy Story*: Buzz Lightyear’s iconic phrase, “To infinity and beyond!” It’s both a playful and meaningful take on the concept, capturing the idea of going farther than imaginable—beyond limits, beyond boundaries, and into the unknown.
In *Toy Story*, this phrase reflects Buzz’s adventurous spirit and optimism, making infinity feel like an exciting, limitless adventure. It’s a great example of infinity as something that’s vast, inspiring, and worth exploring!
Infinity to me, is the idea of something that has no limits—something that begins but never truly ends. It represents a continuous growth that goes beyond any boundaries we can conceive.The first person to really help me understand the concept of infinity was Gege Akutami, the creator of the manga Jujutsu Kaisen. I was 18 when I first grasped this idea. Akutami introduced a character named Gojo , who has a unique power called “Infinite Void.” This ability overwhelms his opponents with endless information, often leaving them confused or even mentally impaired. The concept itself always filled me wonder and awe.