[math-fun] "Finite" meaning "nonzero"
Are you using "finite" to mean "nonzero", Bill? I have always disparaged this usage, but maybe I should reconsider my prejudice. What do you all think about this? Jim Propp On Saturday, September 3, 2016, Bill Gosper <billgosper@gmail.com <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','billgosper@gmail.com');>> wrote:
Despite my distaste for decimal digits, I noticed ... Is the asymptotic density finite? --rwg _______________________________________________ math-fun mailing list math-fun@mailman.xmission.com https://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/math-fun
This is common usage in physics. It is used to mean "infinitesmal but non-zero". I have run into confusion over this meaning many times, but mostly with non-scientific people. On Sat, Sep 3, 2016 at 6:45 PM, James Propp <jamespropp@gmail.com> wrote:
Are you using "finite" to mean "nonzero", Bill?
I have always disparaged this usage, but maybe I should reconsider my prejudice. What do you all think about this?
Jim Propp
On Saturday, September 3, 2016, Bill Gosper <billgosper@gmail.com <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','billgosper@gmail.com');>> wrote:
Despite my distaste for decimal digits, I noticed ... Is the asymptotic density finite? --rwg _______________________________________________ math-fun mailing list math-fun@mailman.xmission.com https://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/math-fun
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I raised this point in a Physics Today letter to the editor (1980s) and was met with unanimous defense of this usage of “finite”. -Veit
On Sep 3, 2016, at 9:45 PM, James Propp <jamespropp@gmail.com> wrote:
Are you using "finite" to mean "nonzero", Bill?
I have always disparaged this usage, but maybe I should reconsider my prejudice. What do you all think about this?
Jim Propp
On Saturday, September 3, 2016, Bill Gosper <billgosper@gmail.com <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','billgosper@gmail.com');>> wrote:
Despite my distaste for decimal digits, I noticed ... Is the asymptotic density finite? --rwg _______________________________________________ math-fun mailing list math-fun@mailman.xmission.com https://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/math-fun
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It's an interesting use of the word "finite" in the sense that the opposite of "finite" probably needs to be "infinite", but here the opposite appears to be "zero". Further, if we are looking at a case like this, a "small but non-zero" asymptote implies a satisfying population for "finite" would have to be, in count, *infinite*. I believe we are in the world of Humpty Dumpty here. On Sun, Sep 4, 2016 at 5:54 AM, Veit Elser <ve10@cornell.edu> wrote:
I raised this point in a Physics Today letter to the editor (1980s) and was met with unanimous defense of this usage of “finite”.
-Veit
On Sep 3, 2016, at 9:45 PM, James Propp <jamespropp@gmail.com> wrote:
Are you using "finite" to mean "nonzero", Bill?
I have always disparaged this usage, but maybe I should reconsider my prejudice. What do you all think about this?
Jim Propp
On Saturday, September 3, 2016, Bill Gosper <billgosper@gmail.com <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','billgosper@gmail.com');>> wrote:
Despite my distaste for decimal digits, I noticed ... Is the asymptotic density finite? --rwg _______________________________________________ math-fun mailing list math-fun@mailman.xmission.com https://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/math-fun
_______________________________________________ math-fun mailing list math-fun@mailman.xmission.com https://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/math-fun
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-- -- http://cube20.org/ -- [ <http://golly.sf.net/>Golly link suppressed; ask me why] --
Well, this way x is finite if and only if 1/x is. - Cris
On Sep 4, 2016, at 10:11 AM, Tomas Rokicki <rokicki@gmail.com> wrote:
It's an interesting use of the word "finite" in the sense that the opposite of "finite" probably needs to be "infinite", but here the opposite appears to be "zero". Further, if we are looking at a case like this, a "small but non-zero" asymptote implies a satisfying population for "finite" would have to be, in count, *infinite*.
I believe we are in the world of Humpty Dumpty here.
On Sun, Sep 4, 2016 at 5:54 AM, Veit Elser <ve10@cornell.edu> wrote:
I raised this point in a Physics Today letter to the editor (1980s) and was met with unanimous defense of this usage of “finite”.
-Veit
On Sep 3, 2016, at 9:45 PM, James Propp <jamespropp@gmail.com> wrote:
Are you using "finite" to mean "nonzero", Bill?
I have always disparaged this usage, but maybe I should reconsider my prejudice. What do you all think about this?
Jim Propp
On Saturday, September 3, 2016, Bill Gosper <billgosper@gmail.com <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','billgosper@gmail.com');>> wrote:
Despite my distaste for decimal digits, I noticed ... Is the asymptotic density finite? --rwg _______________________________________________ math-fun mailing list math-fun@mailman.xmission.com https://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/math-fun
_______________________________________________ math-fun mailing list math-fun@mailman.xmission.com https://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/math-fun
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-- -- http://cube20.org/ -- [ <http://golly.sf.net/>Golly link suppressed; ask me why] -- _______________________________________________ math-fun mailing list math-fun@mailman.xmission.com https://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/math-fun
participants (5)
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Cris Moore -
James Propp -
Rowan Hamilton -
Tomas Rokicki -
Veit Elser