Ad infinitum

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This article is about the Latin phrase. For the symphonic metal musical group, see Ad Infinitum (symphonic metal band). For the short-lived British musical group, see Ad Infinitum (band). For the logic fallacy, see Ad nauseam.

Ad infinitum is a Latin phrase meaning "to infinity" or "forevermore".

Description[]

In context, it usually means "continue forever, without limit" and this can be used to describe a non-terminating process, a non-terminating repeating process,[1] or a set of instructions to be repeated "forever," among other uses. It may also be used in a manner similar to the Latin phrase et cetera to denote written words or a concept that continues for a lengthy period beyond what is shown. Examples include:

  • "The sequence 1, 2, 3, ... continues ad infinitum."
  • "The perimeter of a fractal may be iteratively drawn ad infinitum."

The 17th-century writer Jonathan Swift incorporated the idea of self-similarity in the following lines from his satirical poem On Poetry: a Rhapsody (1733):

The vermin only teaze and pinch
Their foes superior by an inch.
So, naturalists observe, a flea
Has smaller fleas that on him prey;
And these have smaller still to bite 'em,
And so proceed ad infinitum.
Thus every poet, in his kind,
Is bit by him that comes behind[2]

The mathematician Augustus De Morgan included similar lines in his rhyme Siphonaptera.[3]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ "What is Ad infinitum?". Kuknus. 2020-10-27. Retrieved 2022-01-19.
  2. ^ Swift, Jonathan (1733). On Poetry: a Rhapsody. Retrieved 14 December 2017.
  3. ^ De Morgan, Augustus (1915). Smith, David Eugene (ed.). A Budget of Paradoxes. Vol. II (2nd ed.). p. 191.

External links[]

Retrieved from ""