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String theory likes this math because it assumes that there is a curve to the sum, it will get smaller eventually. This helps make the "vibration" part of sting
by drakaal 13y ago
String theory likes this math because it assumes that there is a curve to the sum, it will get smaller eventually. This helps make the "vibration" part of sting theory work.
But just because you can prove something with math doesn't mean it is "real".
We all know that if you add any number of positive integers you get a positive integer. This is very "provable".
The two are in contradiction. The sum of all natural numbers can't be 1/12th if the sum of any two positive integers is another positive integer.
- dtf 13y agoWe all know that if you add any number of rational numbers you get a rational number. Yet the sum of an infinite number of rational numbers can be irrational (eg equation 2 in the article). Contradiction?
- acjohnson55 13y agoNot sure that's any less intuitive than getting a rational number from an infinite sum of integers, or a negative number from an infinite sum of positives. It is indeed a paradox until you rigorously define what you mean by "infinite sum", which is the whole point of the article :)