Infinity is an intriguing topic, with connections to religion, philosophy, metaphysics, logic, and physics as well as mathematics. Its history goes back to ancient times, with especially important contributions from Euclid, Aristotle, Eudoxus, and Archimedes. The infinitely large (infinite) is intimately related to the infinitely small (infinitesimal). Cosmologists consider sweeping questions about whether space and time are infinite. Philosophers and mathematicians ranging from Zeno to Russell have posed numerous paradoxes about infinity and infinitesimals. Many vital areas of mathematics rest upon some version of infinity. The most obvious, and the first context in which major new techniques depended on formulating infinite processes, is calculus. But there are many others, for example Fourier analysis and fractals.

In this Very Short Introduction, Ian Stewart discusses infinity in mathematics while also drawing in the various other aspects of infinity and explaining some of the major problems and insights arising from this concept. He argues that working with infinity is not just an abstract, intellectual exercise but that it is instead a concept with important practical everyday applications, and considers how mathematicians use infinity and infinitesimals to answer questions or supply techniques that do not appear to involve the infinite.

ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.

• We started tracking this book on March 26, 2017.
• This book was £7.59 when we started tracking it.
• The price of this book has changed 58 times in the past 3,040 days.
• The current price of this book is £3.77 last checked 7 days ago.
• The lowest price to date was £3.77 last reached on July 14, 2025.
• This book has been £3.77 2 times since we started tracking it.
• The highest price to date was £8.04 last reached on August 19, 2019.
• This book has been £8.04 one time since we started tracking it.
• This book is currently at its lowest price since we started tracking it.

• Science & MathsMathematicsPure MathematicsLogic
• Science & MathsMathematicsInfinity
• Science & MathsMathematicsMathematical Analysis

• Publication Date: March 13, 2017
• Text-to-Speech: Disabled
• Lending: Disabled
• Print Length: 160 Pages
• File Size: 17 KB