Hard Light Productions Forums

Off-Topic Discussion => General Discussion => Topic started by: Make on December 01, 2004, 12:13:14 pm

Title: Mathematical question
Post by: Make on December 01, 2004, 12:13:14 pm

Is infinite circle a straight line? Me and my friends have a serious argument about this. What is your opinion?

Title: Mathematical question
Post by: Tiara on December 01, 2004, 12:23:48 pm

Ah, yes, the Nicolas of Cusa (or Infinite Circle) paradox :D

And yes, it is a straight line :p

EDIT; I did some searching so you could have an explaination for my answer;

Quote

Nicholas of Cusa (1401-1464) made the following interesting point regarding the shape of an infinite circle. The curvature of a circle's circumference decreases as the size of the circle increases. For example, the curvature of the earth's surface is so negligible that it appears flat. The limit of decrease in curvature is a straight line.

An infinite circle is therefore... a straight line!

Title: Mathematical question
Post by: Ford Prefect on December 01, 2004, 12:25:37 pm

How does that work? (I don't get along with math.)

EDIT: Oh.

Title: Mathematical question
Post by: Tiara on December 01, 2004, 12:26:50 pm

Read my edit.

i'm not going to explain it all the way. Explaining a paradox sucks ass :D let's just say that this was an issue we tackled when i was still a student.

Title: Mathematical question
Post by: Rictor on December 01, 2004, 01:00:11 pm

Far out man...

Title: Mathematical question
Post by: Ghostavo on December 01, 2004, 01:17:52 pm

I thought a straight line was a circle with infinite radius, not the other way around... or something like that... damn geometry.

Title: Mathematical question
Post by: Krackers87 on December 01, 2004, 03:29:28 pm

An infinite circle must be a straight line, for if it had the slightest bit of curve, it would eventualy come back around and complete the circle, making it no longer infinite.