[Math] Is infinity well defined

limitsreal-analysis

Let us consider two functions $f\left(t\right) = \frac{1}{t^2}$ and $g\left(t\right) = t^2$. We want to find the value of these two functions as $t\rightarrow \infty$. For the function $f$, this value is well defined and we write, $f\left(t\rightarrow\infty\right) = 0$. But for $g\left(t\right)$, the value lies at infinity. Which of the followings is true:

  1. The value of $g\left(t\rightarrow\infty\right)$ is not well defined.

  2. The value of $g\left(t\rightarrow\infty\right)$ lies at infinity.

Best Answer

If we were working in the extended real numbers, one would typically continuously extend both of your formulae to set $f(+\infty) = 0$ and $g(+\infty) = +\infty$, rather than presuming that you meant the formula to apply only for real $x$.

Doing the same with the projective real numbers instead, you would do the same and have $f(\infty)=0$ and $g(\infty) = \infty$.


Regarding the notion of limit, while it is traditional to say in the case that

$$ \lim_{x \to +\infty} x^2 = +\infty$$

that the limit is undefined, in my opinion that is a rather incomplete treatment of the situation: if you're going to have a concept of a limit equaling $+\infty$, then you ought to do the thing properly and have $+\infty$ as an actual mathematical object and say that the limit is defined and equals $+\infty$.