# I have a simple idea that I would like to make into a formula

If I wanted to write one plus one, recurring, equals infinity....

Does this make sense?

If so, how would it be written as a formula?

• It does not make sense strictly to speak of anything other than a limit being equal to $\infty$ (and even that, if we are very very strict...). – Martigan Jun 3 '15 at 11:57
• I thought this was written $\zeta(0)=-\frac12$ or something like that. – Henry Jun 3 '15 at 13:47
• 4 people think this question is well researched. – Alec Teal Jun 3 '15 at 23:07

This depends on how strictly rigorous you want to be. You will, fairly often, see statements such as $$\sum_{i=0}^\infty 1=\infty$$

When this is written the correct interpretation should not really be that the sum of infinitely many $1$'s is infinity. Rather it should be that the limit of partial sums diverges to positive infinity, or written mathematically $$\lim_{n\to\infty}\sum_{i=0}^n1=+\infty$$

There is a very good reason to try to always stay very rigorous when dealing with potential infinites (and even with actual infinities but surprisingly they seem to be less of an issue). That reason is that unless you have a lot of experience and training in mathematics chances are, roughly one out of two statements or ideas you will have about potential infinities, will not only be wrong, but usually won't even make good sense.

• A much better write-up than the Comment I was about to leave! – hardmath Jun 3 '15 at 12:04
• @hardmath Thank you.:) – DRF Jun 3 '15 at 12:10

An alternative way to look at it might be the limit of a recursive function. $$f(0) = 1$$ $$f(n) = f(n-1) + 1$$ $$\lim\limits_{n \to \infty} f(n) = \infty$$

• What is $x_n$ here? – Zach Effman Jun 3 '15 at 12:18

You can say like...

$1 + 1 + 1 ... = \sum\limits_{i=1}^{\infty} 1 = +\infty$

Though this is simply the notation.

• It's generally bad practice to make infinity "equal" anything, except in certain contexts. – user3932000 Jun 3 '15 at 14:09
• Maybe I didn't make it clear but that's kind of what I was saying when I said "this is simply the notation" - there's a lot more context required for it to be meaningful. – SubSevn Jun 3 '15 at 14:28
• @user3932000: Of course, those certain contexts are rather pervasive. The aversion you refer to is mainly an artifact of introductory materials being taught in ways that avoid properly introducing $\infty$. – Hurkyl Jun 3 '15 at 18:44