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From: dje@5941ux.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.math
Subject: Re: infinity = -1
Message-ID: <413@5941ux.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 21-Sep-83 13:24:46 EDT
Article-I.D.: 5941ux.413
Posted: Wed Sep 21 13:24:46 1983
Date-Received: Thu, 22-Sep-83 05:19:17 EDT
References: mhuxj.380
Lines: 15

Response to the paradox of:
	x = 1 + 2 + 4 + 8 + ...
	  = 1 + 2 * (1 + 2 + 4 + ...)
	  = 1 + 2 * x
implying x = -1.

The series (1 + 2 + 4 + ...) doesn't sum to any real number, so saying that
"x = 1 + 2 * x" doesn't give you the license to infer that x = -1.

If you try to tinker with "infinite" quantities as if they were numbers, 
then you can get all kinds of inconsistent "equalities" like x = x + 1 as well.

Dave Ellis / Bell Labs, Piscataway NJ
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