# Why is 0*infinty=0?

1. Dec 23, 2005

### asdf1

why is 0*infinty=0?

2. Dec 23, 2005

### siddharth

That is not true. It is indeterminate.In fact, infinity is not a real number, so how will you define multiplication? I think this question has come up and been addressed a lot of times before. You could search for the other similiar threads.

Last edited: Dec 23, 2005
3. Dec 24, 2005

### asdf1

then if that's the case, then why's
-[e^(inifinty)][(infinity)^(v-1)] + -[e^(0)][(0)^(v-1)]=0?

4. Dec 24, 2005

### HallsofIvy

Staff Emeritus
It isn't. In fact, since infinity is not a number, it doesn't make any sense at all. Is it possible that you are thinking of a limit problem, as x-> $\infty$, where if you just replace x by $\infty$, you get that expression? You can't just replace x by a in $lim_{x\rightarrow a} f(x)$ unless a is a number and f is continuous at a (which is a very special case).

Each of
$$lim_{x\rightarrow\infty}x^2\frac{1}{x}$$
$$lim_{x^2\rightarrow\infty}x\frac{1}{x}$$
$$lim_{ax\rightarrow\infty}x\frac{1}{x}$$
"evaluate" as $\infty*0$ but the first is 0, the second is $\infty$ (in other words, the limit does not exist() and the third is a where a can be any number.

Last edited: Dec 25, 2005
5. Dec 24, 2005

### asdf1

the original question was the (intergral)[e^(t)][(t^v-1)]dt, range from 0 to infinity...
so if that integral is integrated, there'll be
-[e^(inifinty)][(infinity)^(v-1)] + -[e^(0)][(0)^(v-1)]=0 as part of the final answer?

6. Dec 24, 2005

### marytormey

infinty=1 and 0*1 is still 0. You have 0 infinties which is nothing

7. Dec 24, 2005

### siddharth

That makes no sense whatsoever

8. Dec 24, 2005

### Hurkyl

Staff Emeritus
You don't integrate simply by plugging the endpoints into the integrand, so I don't understand why you're asking that question.

Secondly, recall that improper integrals (for example, integrals with $-\infty$ or $+\infty$ as a bound) are defined in terms of limits.

Finally, are you sure you aren't looking at $\int_0^{+\infty} e^{-t} t^{v-1} \, dt$?

9. Dec 24, 2005

### Morbid Steve

I thought 0 times anything = 0? I have 0 apples, how many do I have?

10. Dec 24, 2005

### HallsofIvy

Staff Emeritus
One more time: infinity is a symbol, not a number. What you have written- plugging in infinity as if it were a number- is invalid.
$$\int_0^{\infty}e^t t^{v-1}dt$$
is defined as
$$lim_{A\rightarrow \infty}\int_0^Ae^t t^{v-1}dt$$

11. Dec 24, 2005

### Hurkyl

Staff Emeritus
When you say "anything", what you mean is something like "any real number" or "any integer". (Even if you don't know that's what you mean)

When you say "0 apples", that's not multiplication. (Although it can generally be manipulated as if it is a multiplication)

12. Dec 27, 2005

### ksinclair13

I think this thread should be moved to General Math.

Last night, I figured out a way to show that 0*infinity = 1. I'll show you my thought process...

If .9999... = 1, then 1/infinity = 0. I said this because 1/infinity would look like .0000...n. However, n will never be placed at the end because there would be an infinite amount of zeroes. That means that 1/infinity = 0.

Using algebra, we could rearrange to say that 0*infinity = 1; and also, 1/0 = infinity.

If this were the case, then 0 and infinity would be multiplicative inverses of each other. This would make everything so much easier...

I know that none of this is true (infinity isn't an actual number for instance) - I was just having some fun playing around with these ideas while trying to get to sleep last night .

Edit:

Another way to show that 0*infinity = 1 :

log 0 = -infinity
10^-infinity = 0
1/(10^infinity) = 0
1/infinity = 0
0*infinity = 1

This assumes that log 0 actually does equal negative infinity.

Last edited: Dec 27, 2005
13. Dec 27, 2005

### Hurkyl

Staff Emeritus
And also

2 / infinity = 1/infinity + 1/infinity = 0 + 0 = 0
0*infinity = 2
1 = 2

:tongue:

14. Dec 27, 2005

### maverick6664

In many cases, you must not treat infinity as a norml number. Infinity is a kind of state "when one or more parameters are getting close to something or getting greater/smaller, the "value" is getting greater than anything". So it's written as $$lim_{x \rightarrow \infty} x$$ or many other ways. So if you try to calculate 0*inf, it means nothing, but if you define "infinity" in each case properly, it can be "calculated" as such.

To prove infinity is not a number, you can tell this:

Assume infinity is a number, it must be greater than any number. Then how about x = infinity + 1? Clearly x > infinity, and this contradicts our assumption of infinity, because x (number) is greater than infinity. So our assumption "infinity is a number" is wrong; i.e. infinity is not a number. And calculation cannot be done in the same way as with usual numbers.

Last edited: Dec 27, 2005
15. Dec 28, 2005

### arildno

That assumes that the operation of addition works in exactly the same manner when one of the addends is the number infinity.
If, however, you say that inf+a=inf, where a is any number, then your contradiction won't appear, and you may treat infinity as a number.
(Of course, then you've basically changed the meaning of addition, and you are no longer talking about the "normal" numbers..)

16. Dec 28, 2005

### HallsofIvy

Staff Emeritus
"Last night, I figured out a way to show that 0*infinity = 1. I'll show you my thought process..."
Have you paid no attention to what has been said previously? Infinity is not a number and "0*infinity" makes sense only as shorthand for a limit.

"If .9999... = 1, then 1/infinity = 0. I said this because 1/infinity would look like .0000...n. "

?? What possible justification do you have for saying what 1/infinity would "look like"?

Last edited: Dec 28, 2005
17. Dec 28, 2005

### maverick6664

I used a simple reduction to absurdity to prove "infinity" isn't a number. I just say "If infinity were assumed to be a number, our traditional calculation would collapse. So infinity isn't a number." That's why we use $$lim$$ sign to "calculate" infinity especially in $$\frac \infty \infty$$ and in $$0 * \infty$$. Addition seems to work, but even after addition, comparision won't work: i.e. $$\infty + a > \infty (a>0)$$ doesn't hold (cannot be defined.) And when we have $$-\infty$$ addition is no longer valid. I just wanted to say "infinity isn't a number." As in the title of this thread, $$0*\infty$$ isn't defined, and we need $$lim$$ sign to calculate infinity-like numbers.

In order to treat infinity like a number, "non-standard" analysis was created (but I forgot the details because it's unnecessarily complicated...)

18. Dec 28, 2005

### arildno

I overlooked this original statement of yours.
Sorry, won't happen again. I'll put my head in a bucket of water, if that will temper your just wrath over me.

19. Dec 28, 2005

### ksinclair13

Please re-read my first post, HallsofIvy, before making me look stupid. I mentioned in there that I know that none of that is true and that I was just having a little fun in my head. I also mentioned that I know that infinity is not a number.

20. Dec 28, 2005

### maverick6664

No problem. Today my favorite female speed skater, Tomomi Okazaki was chosen for Trino olympic athlete and I am happy :!!) She will win gold medal. :)