When Does Infinity Equal -2?

By Lorph at 4:45 pm on August 22nd, 2008.
Categories: Uncategorized.

Remember in school, when your math friend showed you how 1 = 2?
Now you can amuse them too, except it doesn’t involve any math errors like dividing by 0, or the old
0.99\overline{9} = 1

If you are a math major point your condescending look elsewhere.

Let’s Start

S = 2^1 + 2^2 + 2^3 + ... + 2^\infty
S looks like it should be infinite right?

2*S= 2^2 + 2^3 + ... + 2^\infty
Multiply both sides by 2.

2S-S = -2^1
Subtract the two equations.

S = -2
???

The math experts told me in an unexcited manner: the explanation is here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P-adic_number.

One comment.

  1. test

    Posted by bob on August 26th, 2008.

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