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Single Idea 17941

[filed under theme 6. Mathematics / A. Nature of Mathematics / 5. The Infinite / j. Infinite divisibility ]

Full Idea

The problem with infinitesimals is that in some places they behaved like real numbers close to zero but in other places they behaved like zero.

Gist of Idea

Infinitesimals were sometimes zero, and sometimes close to zero

Source

Mark Colyvan (Introduction to the Philosophy of Mathematics [2012], 7.1.2)

Book Ref

Colyvan,Mark: 'An Introduction to the Philosophy of Mathematics' [CUP 2012], p.121

A Reaction

Colyvan gives an example, of differentiating a polynomial.