So if the universe is expanding then are rational and irrational numbers changing as well?

If the universe is stretching, and expanding then is there a part that is compressing?

nothing's compressing that we know of... I think they just assume that the "true" infinite is beyond our universe... though that's more philosophy than physics. All the evidence shows is that space itself is expanding.

...what does that have to do with rational and irrational numbers? er... I mean, I kinda think I see what you're getting at, but math is a precisely defined system with no dependence on reality. They define the quantities the way they do so that they correspond to our physical universe in useful ways, but they're equally careful to keep math "pure" so that it's (supposedly?) not influenced by experience at all.

Posted By cryptonia on 21 Jul 2009 12:59 PM
nothing's compressing that we know of... I think they just assume that the "true" infinite is beyond our universe... though that's more philosophy than physics. All the evidence shows is that space itself is expanding.

...what does that have to do with rational and irrational numbers? er... I mean, I kinda think I see what you're getting at, but math is a precisely defined system with no dependence on reality. They define the quantities the way they do so that they correspond to our physical universe in useful ways, but they're equally careful to keep math "pure" so that it's (supposedly?) not influenced by experience at all.

hm... looks like that "edit" thing is broken