AtomicQuote

Charles Seife Quote

The Greeks couldn't do this neat little mathematical trick. They didn't have the concept of a limit because they didn't believe in zero. The terms in the infinite series didn't have a limit or a destination; they seemed to get smaller and smaller without any particular end in sight. As a result, the Greeks couldn't handle the infinite. They pondered the concept of the void but rejected zero as a number, and they toyed with the concept of the infinite but refused to allow infinity-numbers that are infinitely small and infinitely large-anywhere near the realm of numbers. This is the biggest failure in Greek mathematics, and it is the only thing that kept them from discovering calculus.

Charles Seife

The Greeks couldn't do this neat little mathematical trick. They didn't have the concept of a limit because they didn't believe in zero. The terms in the infinite series didn't have a limit or a destination; they seemed to get smaller and smaller without any particular end in sight. As a result, the Greeks couldn't handle the infinite. They pondered the concept of the void but rejected zero as a number, and they toyed with the concept of the infinite but refused to allow infinity-numbers that are infinitely small and infinitely large-anywhere near the realm of numbers. This is the biggest failure in Greek mathematics, and it is the only thing that kept them from discovering calculus.

Related Quotes

I've never won an award for anything, and I think it's weird. I mean, that's really cool but it's strange to think you could get an award for acting. I always thought that was strange.

Bobby Cannavale

I've never won an award for anything, and I think it's weird. I mean, that's really cool but it's strange to think you could get an award for acting. I always thought that was strange.

Tags: cool

5 Ways To Build Your Brand on Social Media:1 Post content that add value2 Spread positivity3 Create steady stream of info4 Make an impact5 Be yourself

Germany Kent

5 Ways To Build Your Brand on Social Media:1 Post content that add value2 Spread positivity3 Create steady stream of info4 Make an impact5 Be yourself

Tags: add value, authors, be social, bloggers, blogging, brand image, building, change, change agent, communication

Mothers are fonder than fathers of their children because they are more certain they are their own.

Aristotle

Mothers are fonder than fathers of their children because they are more certain they are their own.

Tags: mom, children, mothers, than

Handle a book as a bee does a flower, extract its sweetness but do not damage it.

John Muir

Handle a book as a bee does a flower, extract its sweetness but do not damage it.

Tags: bees, books, nature

To create well I have to be in a good mood, happy and cool.

Marc Newson

To create well I have to be in a good mood, happy and cool.

Tags: cool, happy, good, mood

It was an emergency!" Seth blurted. "Read my lips - emergency reading - not some demented idea of fun. If I was starving, I would eat asparagus. If somebody held a gun to my head, I would watch a soap...

Brandon Mull

It was an emergency!" Seth blurted. "Read my lips - emergency reading - not some demented idea of fun. If I was starving, I would eat asparagus. If somebody held a gun to my head, I would watch a soap...

Tags: brandon, fablehaven, funny, mull, reading, seth

CHALLENGES MAKE US RISE TO THE OCASSION.

Auliq Ice

CHALLENGES MAKE US RISE TO THE OCASSION.

Tags: challenges, challenges in life, failure, inspirational, learning from mistakes, life, life challenges, life lessons, life trials, motivational

Shame and blame should have no place in our body, mind, or spirit.

Asa Don Brown

Shame and blame should have no place in our body, mind, or spirit.

Tags: attitude, freedom, inspirational, motivational, psychology, spirituality

Arise, my love, let us try to set these ashes on fire again!

Anthony Liccione

Arise, my love, let us try to set these ashes on fire again!

Tags: arise, ashes, couple, eternal, find, fire, flame, heartbreak, love, old and new

Altitude sickness, unregulated drugs and medical gas enabled workers to become drug abusers/addicts

Steven Magee

Altitude sickness, unregulated drugs and medical gas enabled workers to become drug abusers/addicts

Tags: abuse, abusers, addict, addicted, addiction, addiction and recovery, addictions, addicts, altitude, altitudes
About Charles Seife

Charles Seife is an American author, journalist, and professor at New York University. He has written extensively on scientific and mathematical topics.