A Guide to Infinity [Scheinerman] - Printable Version +- MKLab (https://mklab.gr) +-- Forum: [INDEX] (https://mklab.gr/forumdisplay.php?fid=1) +--- Forum: MATHEMATICS (https://mklab.gr/forumdisplay.php?fid=3) +---- Forum: BOOKS (https://mklab.gr/forumdisplay.php?fid=6) +----- Forum: NEW PUBLICATIONS (https://mklab.gr/forumdisplay.php?fid=42) +------ Forum: FOREIGN (https://mklab.gr/forumdisplay.php?fid=91) +------- Forum: MATHEMATICAL EXPOSITION (https://mklab.gr/forumdisplay.php?fid=95) +------- Thread: A Guide to Infinity [Scheinerman] (/showthread.php?tid=306)

A Guide to Infinity [Scheinerman] - mklabgr - 06-12-2026 A Guide to Infinity Ten Mathematical Journeys Edward R. Scheinerman Summary  A Guide to Infinity: Ten Mathematical Journeys by Edward R. Scheinerman (Yale University Press) is an accessible yet rigorous exploration of how mathematicians conceptualize, structure, and utilize the infinite. Rather than treating infinity as a philosophical paradox, Scheinerman presents it as a practical, highly organized tool through ten distinct "journeys": Arithmetic & Number Systems: It explores adding $\pm\infty$ to the real number line, "tropical arithmetic" (which redefines addition and multiplication using minimums), and hyperreal numbers (which formally incorporate infinite and infinitesimal values). Geometry: It dives into the projective plane (where parallel lines meet at an infinite horizon) and non-Euclidean geometry via the hyperbolic plane. Set Theory & Logic: It covers transfinite cardinal and ordinal numbers, explaining the different sizes of infinity and looking at the implications of the Continuum Hypothesis. Visual Infinity: It concludes with the infinite self-similarity found in fractals. Tone & Approach: Written with witty, engaging prose, the book balances conceptual explanations with precise mathematical definitions and theorems. Functioning like an advanced lecture series, each chapter ends with open-ended questions designed to prompt active exploration, making it a great fit for undergraduate students, science enthusiasts, and the mathematically curious. BOOK PAGE