A New Applied Approach for Executing Computations with Infinite and Infinitesimal Quantities
Volume 19, Issue 4 (2008), pp. 567–596
Pub. online: 1 January 2008
Type: Research Article
Received
1 November 2007
1 November 2007
Accepted
1 February 2008
1 February 2008
Published
1 January 2008
1 January 2008
Abstract
A new computational methodology for executing calculations with infinite and infinitesimal quantities is described in this paper. It is based on the principle ‘The part is less than the whole’ introduced by Ancient Greeks and applied to all numbers (finite, infinite, and infinitesimal) and to all sets and processes (finite and infinite). It is shown that it becomes possible to write down finite, infinite, and infinitesimal numbers by a finite number of symbols as particular cases of a unique framework. The new methodology has allowed us to introduce the Infinity Computer working with such numbers (its simulator has already been realized). Examples dealing with divergent series, infinite sets, and limits are given.