68593 - Re: 9.999999=10 Rounding off Infinity
Reload Page | Topic Thread | Post a Followup | The Hawking Forum | Search | FAQ
Back in Thread | Next in Thread | Back by Number | Next by Number | Back to Entry Point
Posted by Samuel A. (Sam) Cox on January 30, 2005 at 10:52:17
(Message posted from "unknown" at 152.163.100.195) - explanation

In Reply to: "9.999999=10 Rounding off Infinity" posted by Stephen A Jeffrey on January 30, 2005 at 00:10:57

Rounding off and significant figures are very useful mathematical procedures, but 9.99 is NOT equal to 10. Don't feel bad though. some scientists are ever so ready to round off the universe too.

One of the lessons of advanced models has been that small discrepancies, very small indeed, make a big difference. Watch out for "almost" in science. In a huge and massive universe, the photon is almost massless...but it does work (runs your calculator), right? The omega is not 1 (flat universe) but 1.01 (closed). Big difference!

Mom used to tell me that if I took care of the little things, the big things would take care of themselves. That principle is important in science (and math) too.

For Charlie, Ringo, Keith and everyone...the wife and I will be traveling, so I'll be mostly off the board for a while... I'll check in from the field once in a while and say hello.

Back in Thread | Next in Thread | Back by Number | Next by Number | Back to Entry Point
Topic Thread:
Followup postings for this message are closed.

Reload Page | Topic Thread | Post a Followup | The Hawking Forum | Search | FAQ
Back in Thread | Next in Thread | Back by Number | Next by Number | Back to Entry Point