The concept of infinity for a 5 year old
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My son, who just turned 5, has been interested in the concept of infinity since long. He asks me a lot of questions regarding infinity. For example, not accepting my infinity + any number = infinity, he asked me how old I will be when he himself becomes infinity years old.
How should I explain to him this concept that resonates with his previous understanding of mathematics. If it matters, he knows how to add and subtract very large numbers, knows about negative numbers and has figured out tables of any number less than 100.
infinity
asked 4 hours ago
Qasim ChaudhariQasim Chaudhari
1113
New contributor
Qasim Chaudhari is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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add a comment |
$begingroup$
My son, who just turned 5, has been interested in the concept of infinity since long. He asks me a lot of questions regarding infinity. For example, not accepting my infinity + any number = infinity, he asked me how old I will be when he himself becomes infinity years old.
How should I explain to him this concept that resonates with his previous understanding of mathematics. If it matters, he knows how to add and subtract very large numbers, knows about negative numbers and has figured out tables of any number less than 100.
infinity
asked 4 hours ago
Qasim ChaudhariQasim Chaudhari
1113
New contributor
Qasim Chaudhari is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
$endgroup$
$begingroup$
he asked me how old I will be when he himself becomes infinity years old. This might be a perfect opportunity to talk about your (and his) mortality.
$endgroup$
– Nick C
3 hours ago
$begingroup$
How should I explain to him this concept that resonates with his previous understanding of mathematics. Do you want to explain the concept of infinity to him in a way that resonates, or do you want to more fully explain your assertion that infinity plus any number equals infinity?
$endgroup$
– Nick C
3 hours ago
$begingroup$
I guess the former, since he is not satisfied with the latter explanation. Moreover, my thinking is to raise him one level up on his own ladder.
$endgroup$
– Qasim Chaudhari
1 hour ago
1
$begingroup$
Similar question at Mathematics Stack Exchange
$endgroup$
– Joel Reyes Noche
1 hour ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
My son, who just turned 5, has been interested in the concept of infinity since long. He asks me a lot of questions regarding infinity. For example, not accepting my infinity + any number = infinity, he asked me how old I will be when he himself becomes infinity years old.
How should I explain to him this concept that resonates with his previous understanding of mathematics. If it matters, he knows how to add and subtract very large numbers, knows about negative numbers and has figured out tables of any number less than 100.
infinity
asked 4 hours ago
Qasim ChaudhariQasim Chaudhari
1113
New contributor
Qasim Chaudhari is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
$endgroup$
My son, who just turned 5, has been interested in the concept of infinity since long. He asks me a lot of questions regarding infinity. For example, not accepting my infinity + any number = infinity, he asked me how old I will be when he himself becomes infinity years old.
How should I explain to him this concept that resonates with his previous understanding of mathematics. If it matters, he knows how to add and subtract very large numbers, knows about negative numbers and has figured out tables of any number less than 100.
infinity
infinity
asked 4 hours ago
Qasim ChaudhariQasim Chaudhari
1113
New contributor
Qasim Chaudhari is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 4 hours ago
Qasim ChaudhariQasim Chaudhari
1113
New contributor
Qasim Chaudhari is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
edited 4 hours ago
Qasim Chaudhari
asked 4 hours ago
Qasim ChaudhariQasim Chaudhari
1113
New contributor
Qasim Chaudhari is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 4 hours ago
Qasim ChaudhariQasim Chaudhari
1113
asked 4 hours ago
Qasim ChaudhariQasim Chaudhari
1113
1113
New contributor
Qasim Chaudhari is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
Qasim Chaudhari is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Qasim Chaudhari is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
$begingroup$
he asked me how old I will be when he himself becomes infinity years old. This might be a perfect opportunity to talk about your (and his) mortality.
$endgroup$
– Nick C
3 hours ago
$begingroup$
How should I explain to him this concept that resonates with his previous understanding of mathematics. Do you want to explain the concept of infinity to him in a way that resonates, or do you want to more fully explain your assertion that infinity plus any number equals infinity?
$endgroup$
– Nick C
3 hours ago
$begingroup$
I guess the former, since he is not satisfied with the latter explanation. Moreover, my thinking is to raise him one level up on his own ladder.
$endgroup$
– Qasim Chaudhari
1 hour ago
1
$begingroup$
Similar question at Mathematics Stack Exchange
$endgroup$
– Joel Reyes Noche
1 hour ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
he asked me how old I will be when he himself becomes infinity years old. This might be a perfect opportunity to talk about your (and his) mortality.
$endgroup$
– Nick C
3 hours ago
$begingroup$
How should I explain to him this concept that resonates with his previous understanding of mathematics. Do you want to explain the concept of infinity to him in a way that resonates, or do you want to more fully explain your assertion that infinity plus any number equals infinity?
$endgroup$
– Nick C
3 hours ago
$begingroup$
I guess the former, since he is not satisfied with the latter explanation. Moreover, my thinking is to raise him one level up on his own ladder.
$endgroup$
– Qasim Chaudhari
1 hour ago
1
$begingroup$
Similar question at Mathematics Stack Exchange
$endgroup$
– Joel Reyes Noche
1 hour ago
$begingroup$
he asked me how old I will be when he himself becomes infinity years old. This might be a perfect opportunity to talk about your (and his) mortality.
$endgroup$
– Nick C
3 hours ago
$begingroup$
he asked me how old I will be when he himself becomes infinity years old. This might be a perfect opportunity to talk about your (and his) mortality.
$endgroup$
– Nick C
3 hours ago
$begingroup$
How should I explain to him this concept that resonates with his previous understanding of mathematics. Do you want to explain the concept of infinity to him in a way that resonates, or do you want to more fully explain your assertion that infinity plus any number equals infinity?
$endgroup$
– Nick C
3 hours ago
$begingroup$
How should I explain to him this concept that resonates with his previous understanding of mathematics. Do you want to explain the concept of infinity to him in a way that resonates, or do you want to more fully explain your assertion that infinity plus any number equals infinity?
$endgroup$
– Nick C
3 hours ago
$begingroup$
I guess the former, since he is not satisfied with the latter explanation. Moreover, my thinking is to raise him one level up on his own ladder.
$endgroup$
– Qasim Chaudhari
1 hour ago
$begingroup$
I guess the former, since he is not satisfied with the latter explanation. Moreover, my thinking is to raise him one level up on his own ladder.
$endgroup$
– Qasim Chaudhari
1 hour ago
1
1
$begingroup$
Similar question at Mathematics Stack Exchange
$endgroup$
– Joel Reyes Noche
1 hour ago
$begingroup$
Similar question at Mathematics Stack Exchange
$endgroup$
– Joel Reyes Noche
1 hour ago
add a comment |
2 Answers
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$begingroup$
I would concentrate on other things instead of beating heads against the infinity wall. He doesn't have mental ability or background for a sophisticated explanation and simple one's like "too big to count" are not completely correct. Give it time.
answered 3 hours ago
guestguest
111
New contributor
guest is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
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add a comment |
$begingroup$
This does not directly concern the $infty+1=infty$ issue and I am not certain that I understand what you mean by his previous understanding of mathematics, but I wanted to give the following suggestion:
- Ask your child to name the biggest number he knows (besides $infty$). (Let's say he answers $1000$);
- Tell him to add $1$ to it;
- Ask him again what is the biggest number he knows. (It should be $1001$).
Repeat the process a few times and he should realize at some point that he can do this indefinitely. He can just keep on adding $1$ for free. It doesn't matter if he can't name the numbers eventually, as long as he understands that the next number is one more than the previous one.
While this does not necessarily show the various types of infinities that might exist, I think the idea that you can "keep on going" is a fair definition of infinity for a 5 year-old. It's not too hard to understand and it illustrates that infinity is not a number like $1$, $2$ and $3$, but rather an idea: infinity is what you get if you keep on going forever. It is certainly better than the belief I had as a child that infinity was the biggest number; there's no such thing as the biggest if you can keep on adding $1$. I hope this helps in some way!
answered 24 mins ago
orion2112orion2112
37839
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add a comment |
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2 Answers
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2 Answers
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$begingroup$
I would concentrate on other things instead of beating heads against the infinity wall. He doesn't have mental ability or background for a sophisticated explanation and simple one's like "too big to count" are not completely correct. Give it time.
answered 3 hours ago
guestguest
111
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guest is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
I would concentrate on other things instead of beating heads against the infinity wall. He doesn't have mental ability or background for a sophisticated explanation and simple one's like "too big to count" are not completely correct. Give it time.
answered 3 hours ago
guestguest
111
New contributor
guest is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
I would concentrate on other things instead of beating heads against the infinity wall. He doesn't have mental ability or background for a sophisticated explanation and simple one's like "too big to count" are not completely correct. Give it time.
answered 3 hours ago
guestguest
111
New contributor
guest is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
$endgroup$
I would concentrate on other things instead of beating heads against the infinity wall. He doesn't have mental ability or background for a sophisticated explanation and simple one's like "too big to count" are not completely correct. Give it time.
answered 3 hours ago
guestguest
111
New contributor
guest is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered 3 hours ago
guestguest
111
New contributor
guest is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered 3 hours ago
guestguest
111
answered 3 hours ago
guestguest
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111
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add a comment |
add a comment |
$begingroup$
This does not directly concern the $infty+1=infty$ issue and I am not certain that I understand what you mean by his previous understanding of mathematics, but I wanted to give the following suggestion:
- Ask your child to name the biggest number he knows (besides $infty$). (Let's say he answers $1000$);
- Tell him to add $1$ to it;
- Ask him again what is the biggest number he knows. (It should be $1001$).
Repeat the process a few times and he should realize at some point that he can do this indefinitely. He can just keep on adding $1$ for free. It doesn't matter if he can't name the numbers eventually, as long as he understands that the next number is one more than the previous one.
While this does not necessarily show the various types of infinities that might exist, I think the idea that you can "keep on going" is a fair definition of infinity for a 5 year-old. It's not too hard to understand and it illustrates that infinity is not a number like $1$, $2$ and $3$, but rather an idea: infinity is what you get if you keep on going forever. It is certainly better than the belief I had as a child that infinity was the biggest number; there's no such thing as the biggest if you can keep on adding $1$. I hope this helps in some way!
answered 24 mins ago
orion2112orion2112
37839
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
This does not directly concern the $infty+1=infty$ issue and I am not certain that I understand what you mean by his previous understanding of mathematics, but I wanted to give the following suggestion:
- Ask your child to name the biggest number he knows (besides $infty$). (Let's say he answers $1000$);
- Tell him to add $1$ to it;
- Ask him again what is the biggest number he knows. (It should be $1001$).
Repeat the process a few times and he should realize at some point that he can do this indefinitely. He can just keep on adding $1$ for free. It doesn't matter if he can't name the numbers eventually, as long as he understands that the next number is one more than the previous one.
While this does not necessarily show the various types of infinities that might exist, I think the idea that you can "keep on going" is a fair definition of infinity for a 5 year-old. It's not too hard to understand and it illustrates that infinity is not a number like $1$, $2$ and $3$, but rather an idea: infinity is what you get if you keep on going forever. It is certainly better than the belief I had as a child that infinity was the biggest number; there's no such thing as the biggest if you can keep on adding $1$. I hope this helps in some way!
answered 24 mins ago
orion2112orion2112
37839
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
This does not directly concern the $infty+1=infty$ issue and I am not certain that I understand what you mean by his previous understanding of mathematics, but I wanted to give the following suggestion:
- Ask your child to name the biggest number he knows (besides $infty$). (Let's say he answers $1000$);
- Tell him to add $1$ to it;
- Ask him again what is the biggest number he knows. (It should be $1001$).
Repeat the process a few times and he should realize at some point that he can do this indefinitely. He can just keep on adding $1$ for free. It doesn't matter if he can't name the numbers eventually, as long as he understands that the next number is one more than the previous one.
While this does not necessarily show the various types of infinities that might exist, I think the idea that you can "keep on going" is a fair definition of infinity for a 5 year-old. It's not too hard to understand and it illustrates that infinity is not a number like $1$, $2$ and $3$, but rather an idea: infinity is what you get if you keep on going forever. It is certainly better than the belief I had as a child that infinity was the biggest number; there's no such thing as the biggest if you can keep on adding $1$. I hope this helps in some way!
answered 24 mins ago
orion2112orion2112
37839
$endgroup$
This does not directly concern the $infty+1=infty$ issue and I am not certain that I understand what you mean by his previous understanding of mathematics, but I wanted to give the following suggestion:
- Ask your child to name the biggest number he knows (besides $infty$). (Let's say he answers $1000$);
- Tell him to add $1$ to it;
- Ask him again what is the biggest number he knows. (It should be $1001$).
Repeat the process a few times and he should realize at some point that he can do this indefinitely. He can just keep on adding $1$ for free. It doesn't matter if he can't name the numbers eventually, as long as he understands that the next number is one more than the previous one.
While this does not necessarily show the various types of infinities that might exist, I think the idea that you can "keep on going" is a fair definition of infinity for a 5 year-old. It's not too hard to understand and it illustrates that infinity is not a number like $1$, $2$ and $3$, but rather an idea: infinity is what you get if you keep on going forever. It is certainly better than the belief I had as a child that infinity was the biggest number; there's no such thing as the biggest if you can keep on adding $1$. I hope this helps in some way!
answered 24 mins ago
orion2112orion2112
37839
answered 24 mins ago
orion2112orion2112
37839
answered 24 mins ago
orion2112orion2112
37839
answered 24 mins ago
orion2112orion2112
37839
37839
add a comment |
add a comment |
Qasim Chaudhari is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Qasim Chaudhari is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Qasim Chaudhari is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Qasim Chaudhari is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
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$begingroup$
he asked me how old I will be when he himself becomes infinity years old. This might be a perfect opportunity to talk about your (and his) mortality.
$endgroup$
– Nick C
3 hours ago
$begingroup$
How should I explain to him this concept that resonates with his previous understanding of mathematics. Do you want to explain the concept of infinity to him in a way that resonates, or do you want to more fully explain your assertion that infinity plus any number equals infinity?
$endgroup$
– Nick C
3 hours ago
$begingroup$
I guess the former, since he is not satisfied with the latter explanation. Moreover, my thinking is to raise him one level up on his own ladder.
$endgroup$
– Qasim Chaudhari
1 hour ago
1
$begingroup$
Similar question at Mathematics Stack Exchange
$endgroup$
– Joel Reyes Noche
1 hour ago