Abstract:

The notion of infinity is our greatest friend; it is also the

greatest enemy of our peace of mind.1
-James Pierpont
The concept of infinity is one the most revolutionary idea ever presented in
mathematics. The idea of limitless identity has played key role in
development of many important mathematical theorems and concepts.
Existence of math without prime concepts like Set Theory or Calculus or
Geometry based on infinite set of points will be anomalous. Infinity Is the
answer of many questions which were unanswered for centuries.
Introduction:
The journey of infinity in maths began with the Greeks. The inspiration of
infinity is based upon the endlessness of space and time. Aristotle believed
in potential infinity i.e. something which can be extended to many elements
but not infinitely many. Like Aristotle Euclid also believed in potential infinity.
In his proof of infinite primes he stated that Prime numbers are more than
any assigned magnitude of prime numbers.2.
The modern approach towards infinity is initially observed in Zenos
paradoxes of motion[1]. The paradox of dichotomy says that: That which is
in locomotion must arrive at the halfway stage before it arrives at the goal3
In mathematical form the series became like:
1
1
1
1
1
1
+
+
+
+
+
...
2
4
8
16
32
64
The solution of zenos paradox was given after discovery of infinite series
expansion.
The beauty of infinity is it can be extended to infinitely large as well as
infinitely small. Using the latter application Galileo suggested the calculation
1 http://platonicrealms.com/quotes/James-Pierpont
2 https://primes.utm.edu/notes/proofs/infinite/euclids.html
3 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zeno%27s_paradoxes

via infinitesimal small infinite steps. The present form of calculus in

completely based on above idea. The credit for the symbol of infinity goes to
John Wallis[8]. The inspiration behind is that it can be traced infinitely
many times. In the later stage fourier, Reiman, Dirichlet and many other has
tried to answer some of problems by infinite series solution.
Motivation:
Infinity has been always a very confusing notion for me. It started with
paradox of 0/0. The infinity is the unknown solution for unsolved problems.
Like infinite exponential or trigonometric series solution of differential
equations. The primary idea behind choosing this topic is to understand how
the conception of infinity emerge and how it has evolved with the
development of humanity. The central theme which essay will follow is to find
the element of finitism in infinity .
Core Topic:
Set theory and infinity: Relation between two infinite sets[2],[4]
In 1874 Georg Ferdinand Ludwig Philipp Cantor presented the set theory. The
theory had initialised a new epoch in the history of mathematics. And with
this infinity gets its countability.
Initially cantor was trying to study functions with converging fourier series.
There he was working on series which can be differentiated infinite times.
Then cantor changed his focus to numbers. Cantor has tried to develop the
relation between number sets.
He established following parameters for the comparison of the sets:
Cardinality:
Numbers

of

members

cardinality of sets.
e.g. |{1,A,,5,J}|=5
Subset:
For A to be subset of B:
AB iff xA xB

of

particular

set

is

called

The subset is useful in order to establish equivalence or similar kind of

relation between two sets. The approach of cantor for constructing relation
between pair of sets is via cardinality.
The number sets has infinite members. To analyze relation between such
sets he defines cardinality of Natural Numbers as 0 (Aleph-Null) and of Real
Numbers as 1 (Aleph-One).

Following are the arguments he made and

proved:
The set of rationals (Q) can be mapped one-one to Natural
Numbers(N)
The set of Real Numbers(R) can not be put in one-one mapping
with Natural Numbers(N)
0 < 1
This conceptualization of mapping generated basis of functions and relations.
Applications:[3]
Application of concept of infinity:
The concept of infinity has various range of application in science mainly
mathematics and physics. In mathematics it is the widely applicable in:

Geometry: infinite set of points

Calculus: infinite steps procedure
Complex surface: Riemann Surface
Differential Equation: Infinite series solutions
Set Theory: System of transfinite numbers
Non Standard Analysis
Fractals etc

In physics the space-time is the prime reason behind the idea of infinity. The
very perception of potential is solely based of infinity.
Application of cantors work:
Set theory has wide range applications in calculus as well as other other
branch of mathematics. It is also very useful concept in computer science.
The cantors concept of transfinite numbers has a very interesting science
fiction story associated with it stating its physical application:
http://www.tor.com/stories/2008/10/jackandtheaktuals
Open Problems:

Problems in infinity:
The conception of accept is widely accepted by mathematicians but there
are a group of mathematicians who do not agree with the existence of
limitless elements in maths. There are several attempts made by them to
develop maths allowing only finite elements[5].
Continuum hypothesis:
Cantor suggested that for set to be countable it should be mapped to either
Natural Numbers or Real Numbers i.e.
0<|S|<1
The hypothesis is not completely true. It used to be one of the greatest open
problem. The continuum hypothesis holds first place in Hilbert's Problem 4 list

of

important

problems

presented

in

International

Congress

of

Mathematics in 1900. It has been proven that the problem can not be solved
using given axioms.[6]
Conclusion:
Infinity in its highest form has created and sustains us, and in its secondary
transfinite forms occurs all around us and even inhabits our minds.5
Georg Cantor, On Various Standpoints Regarding the Actual Infinite, 1885
The notion of infinity has a very extensive philosophical connotation
associated

with

it.

The

belief

of

something

beyond

limit

lead

to

conceptualization of existence of metaphysical entities. That is the beauty of

mathematics that :
There is no branch of mathematics, however abstract, which may not
some day be applied to phenomena of the real world6.
4 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hilbert%27s_problems
5 http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Georg_Cantor
6 http://www.iith.ac.in/~jbala/publications/The%20Right%20Angle/Quotes/Mathematics%20quotes,
%20quotations,%20Famous%20Mathematics%20quotes.htm

-Nikolai Lobatchevsky

Reference:
[1]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zeno%27s_paradoxes
[2]http://www.math.tamu.edu/~dallen/history/infinity.pdf
[3]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infinity#Mathematics
[4]http://web.pdx.edu/~caughman/AmyDraft501.pdf
[5]Alternative

Mathematics

without

Actual

Infinity ,Toru

Tsujishita

arXiv:1204.2193 [math.GM]
[6]http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/135171/continuumhypothesis
[7]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Continuum_hypothesis
[8]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Wallis