[asimovian]

At least, that's what I think.
And that's why I would like a little input from you people on this little problem here.
If my English is not totally correct, please be patient.
Consider the set of natural numbers, i.e. 1, 2, 3... It tends towards infinity as we go on counting, that is to say, it doesn't stop at any particular number. These are the numbers which we use to count things in the physical universe (i.e. 1 cloud, 2 clouds, 3 clouds...1 dollar, 2 dollars, 3 dollars... :) ).
Now let's take a different kind of set, namely one in which each number is the inverse of each analogous natural number (i.e. 1/1, 1/2, 1/3...). This set, too, is an infinite set, that should be pretty obvious, as you can go on dividing 1 by succeeding natural numbers infinitely.
The first set goes together with the physical universe. What's typical for the physical universe, is that it consists of objects you can count.
This second set however is a little bit more tricky : if the first one is the one characterizing the physical universe, then what is the second one about ?
(Remark : please notice that, although both of these sets of numbers are infinite, it does not seem to be the same 'kind' of infinity : you will see what I mean if you try adding up, first the numbers of the first set (but don't forget to stop at some particular point !) and then (separately of course) add up a few of the numbers of the second set.
You will see that, although the total goes toward infinite, it does not increase in the same way)

[LePeze]

are u trying to become a math teacher?

[Shef]

Or are you trying to become a smart arse.:p

[Ladijen]

Both sets of numbers characterize the physical universe, I think. I would look at this not by adding up the numbers but by imagining, as you continue along the progression, what the set approaches. In the one instance (1,2,3...) the members of the set are getting larger, approaching infinity. In the other (1/2, 1/3, 1/4...) the numbers are getting smaller, approaching 0. So the first set characterizes the universe in progressively larger increments, while the other set characterizes the minuscule within the universe. (Imagine 1/1,000,000 of a meter...this is one micron, a distance too small to see, but still measurable with the proper instruments.)


edit here--the latter, shef! :) :p

[Ogg]

I believe that the two sets of numbers are in fact a metering system for your spam count, which this topic shamelessly builds!;)

The first is your number of posts per day, ie 1,2,3,4,...

The second is your average posts per day, 1/1(1),1/2(0.5),1/3(0.750),ect,ect,...

You know its my job to watch out for stuff like this and note it in my trusty notebook that Dennizm gave me... :D :D :D

[Killer Chicken]

Yes asimovian. Sci-Fi fans are geniouses. But anyway... Yes, I think that the numbers in the first set are increasing exponentially, but the numbers in the second set are splitting exponentially. Exponential growth, isn't it a great thing. Kind of like the number of Ogg's posts...;)

[asimovian]

Fee, Ogg !

quote
The second is your average posts per day, 1/1(1),1/2(0.5),1/3(0.750),ect,ect,...
unquote

Since when has 1/3 been = 0.750 ?
Back to school with you !
(do you see how I am weeding the chaff from the wheat ? :) )

[Colossus]

After taking a Tylenol I came up with this...

Once you count past one (1) you are focusing on the many, i.e, five of these, six of those, however, counting down from one you are focusing on the one , or more exactly, fragments of the one. So I guess it is how you view the universe, either as the parts that make up the sum or the sum that is made up of the parts.

What did I just say???

[e-Morgana]

That's very profound Colossus.

Do you mind if I use that for future reference??:cool:

[Colossus]

Sure...please send all royalties to:

The Center for Obsessive Paranoidal

The address is:

(Oh yeah, like I am going to give you the address and then you'll keep writing me and bugging me and I'll never get any sleep....)

;) <-- Hey, stop winking. You're talking about me aren't you!!!