My Journal

David Tong posted a fun video in Mathematics a few days ago:

1+2+3+4+...= -1/2

This is called messing around with the concept of infinity.

After a long thought...(I must if I were to consider myself a math major)...my concluding response was:

Ok. No more thinking about it I think I'd say nice trick, but to theologize it, I'd have to call it a heresy if not explained properly. I think it starts with Grandi's series: S1 = 1-1+1-1+...=1/2. If we are to maintain ∞ (infinity) a concept instead of a number which would yield contradiction in this case, then we must also admit that 2(S1): 1+0+0+... is not simply 1+0, in the normal arithmetic sense. After that, we can discuss more about the wonders of ∞.

I must say, I admire greatly the enthusiasm of Brady Haran of the video. I have only seen one other mathematician with such enthusiasm and I do not remember his name (a Math PhD from Stony Brook years).

This series is one of those "I think something's wrong with it, but I just cannot figure it out right now" kind of theories.

It had me almost convinced (what a poor mathematician am I) and gone Willy Wonka for a little bit.

I've briefly read on Cesaro's Sum, quantum physics (renormalization),  and other  clues. I even discovered a renewed interest in number theory, such as that which led to Andrew Wiles' proof of Fermat's Last Theorem.

School's going to be fun. Nonetheless, too many things, too little time. Time management is crucial.