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  3. Since geeky science questions seem to be today's fashion...

Since geeky science questions seem to be today's fashion...

Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved The Lounge
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  • G Offline
    G Offline
    Gregory Gadow
    wrote on last edited by
    #1

    Q: Describe a 2 or 3 dimensional shape with an infinite edge and zero area, which takes up a finite amount of space.

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    • G Gregory Gadow

      Q: Describe a 2 or 3 dimensional shape with an infinite edge and zero area, which takes up a finite amount of space.

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      J Offline
      Joshua Tully
      wrote on last edited by
      #2

      Zero area yet still requires space? A ray perhaps?

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      • G Gregory Gadow

        Q: Describe a 2 or 3 dimensional shape with an infinite edge and zero area, which takes up a finite amount of space.

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        Dave Kreskowiak
        wrote on last edited by
        #3

        Vector

        A guide to posting questions on CodeProject[^]
        Dave Kreskowiak Microsoft MVP Visual Developer - Visual Basic
             2006, 2007, 2008
        But no longer in 2009...

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        • G Gregory Gadow

          Q: Describe a 2 or 3 dimensional shape with an infinite edge and zero area, which takes up a finite amount of space.

          M Offline
          M Offline
          martin_hughes
          wrote on last edited by
          #4

          Gregory.Gadow wrote:

          Describe a 2 or 3 dimensional shape with an infinite edge and zero area, which takes up a finite amount of space.

          No.

          Books written by CP members

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          • G Gregory Gadow

            Q: Describe a 2 or 3 dimensional shape with an infinite edge and zero area, which takes up a finite amount of space.

            L Offline
            L Offline
            Lost User
            wrote on last edited by
            #5

            A: A shape which is 2 or 3 dimensional and has an infinite edge and zero area, and takes up a finite amount of space.

            1 Reply Last reply
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            • J Joshua Tully

              Zero area yet still requires space? A ray perhaps?

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              A Offline
              AspDotNetDev
              wrote on last edited by
              #6

              That is a 1-dimensional shape that can be placed in a 2 or 3 dimensional space. Perhaps a loop would qualify as an answer (depending on your definition of "infinite").

              [Forum Guidelines]

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              • G Gregory Gadow

                Q: Describe a 2 or 3 dimensional shape with an infinite edge and zero area, which takes up a finite amount of space.

                A Offline
                A Offline
                AspDotNetDev
                wrote on last edited by
                #7

                ∞?

                [Forum Guidelines]

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                • G Gregory Gadow

                  Q: Describe a 2 or 3 dimensional shape with an infinite edge and zero area, which takes up a finite amount of space.

                  A Offline
                  A Offline
                  Andy Brummer
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #8

                  Peano curve?

                  I can imagine the sinking feeling one would have after ordering my book, only to find a laughably ridiculous theory with demented logic once the book arrives - Mark McCutcheon

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                  • G Gregory Gadow

                    Q: Describe a 2 or 3 dimensional shape with an infinite edge and zero area, which takes up a finite amount of space.

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                    C Offline
                    Chris Maunder
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #9

                    I'm guessing you're not going to allow t as a dimension, right? ;)

                    cheers, Chris Maunder The Code Project | Co-founder Microsoft C++ MVP

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                    • G Gregory Gadow

                      Q: Describe a 2 or 3 dimensional shape with an infinite edge and zero area, which takes up a finite amount of space.

                      Z Offline
                      Z Offline
                      Zach Burnett
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #10

                      How about a singularity?

                      Zach

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                      • G Gregory Gadow

                        Q: Describe a 2 or 3 dimensional shape with an infinite edge and zero area, which takes up a finite amount of space.

                        R Offline
                        R Offline
                        Rob Graham
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #11

                        a point. infinite edge, zero area (zero volume in 3d). Don't get the last qualifier, since it contradicts the second...perhaps you meant 'occupies a specific location'.

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                        • G Gregory Gadow

                          Q: Describe a 2 or 3 dimensional shape with an infinite edge and zero area, which takes up a finite amount of space.

                          D Offline
                          D Offline
                          Dalek Dave
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #12

                          not np compliant, so wont answer

                          ------------------------------------ I will never again mention that I was the poster of the One Millionth Lounge Post, nor that it was complete drivel. Dalek Dave

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                          • G Gregory Gadow

                            Q: Describe a 2 or 3 dimensional shape with an infinite edge and zero area, which takes up a finite amount of space.

                            L Offline
                            L Offline
                            Luc Pattyn
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #13

                            That would be a fractal, such as this Sierpinski triangle[^]. ADDED Although not many would agree they have 2 or 3 (or any integer) number of dimensions... :)

                            Luc Pattyn [Forum Guidelines] [Why QA sucks] [My Articles]


                            Prolific encyclopedia fixture proof-reader browser patron addict?
                            We all depend on the beast below.


                            modified on Thursday, May 6, 2010 6:06 PM

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                            • G Gregory Gadow

                              Q: Describe a 2 or 3 dimensional shape with an infinite edge and zero area, which takes up a finite amount of space.

                              M Offline
                              M Offline
                              Marc Clifton
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #14

                              Gregory.Gadow wrote:

                              Describe a 2 or 3 dimensional shape with an infinite edge and zero area, which takes up a finite amount of space.

                              The Euro ? Marc

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                              • L Luc Pattyn

                                That would be a fractal, such as this Sierpinski triangle[^]. ADDED Although not many would agree they have 2 or 3 (or any integer) number of dimensions... :)

                                Luc Pattyn [Forum Guidelines] [Why QA sucks] [My Articles]


                                Prolific encyclopedia fixture proof-reader browser patron addict?
                                We all depend on the beast below.


                                modified on Thursday, May 6, 2010 6:06 PM

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                                AspDotNetDev
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #15

                                Good friggin call. Though I wouldn't say it has an infinite edge. Perhaps an infinite number of edges, but each of them of a finite length. And what happens when the cumulative edge length approaches infinity? Doesn't it approach having a surface? Who knew there was so much philosophy in such a simple question? :rolleyes:

                                [Forum Guidelines]

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                                • G Gregory Gadow

                                  Q: Describe a 2 or 3 dimensional shape with an infinite edge and zero area, which takes up a finite amount of space.

                                  A Offline
                                  A Offline
                                  AspDotNetDev
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #16

                                  Asymptote. y=1/x.

                                  [Forum Guidelines]

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                                  • A AspDotNetDev

                                    Asymptote. y=1/x.

                                    [Forum Guidelines]

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                                    Luc Pattyn
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #17

                                    you mean a hyperbole (which BTW has two asymptotes). "takes up a finite amount of space" is debatable now, you need a lot of space to store one without folding, bending or cutting it. :)

                                    Luc Pattyn [Forum Guidelines] [Why QA sucks] [My Articles]


                                    Prolific encyclopedia fixture proof-reader browser patron addict?
                                    We all depend on the beast below.


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                                    • A AspDotNetDev

                                      Good friggin call. Though I wouldn't say it has an infinite edge. Perhaps an infinite number of edges, but each of them of a finite length. And what happens when the cumulative edge length approaches infinity? Doesn't it approach having a surface? Who knew there was so much philosophy in such a simple question? :rolleyes:

                                      [Forum Guidelines]

                                      L Offline
                                      L Offline
                                      Luc Pattyn
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #18

                                      well, either edge is used for perimeter, not the line connecting two vertices; or we could agree the vertices are all melting together and all edges become one... the surface issue is the problematic one, they are fractals after all. :)

                                      Luc Pattyn [Forum Guidelines] [Why QA sucks] [My Articles]


                                      Prolific encyclopedia fixture proof-reader browser patron addict?
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                                      • G Gregory Gadow

                                        Q: Describe a 2 or 3 dimensional shape with an infinite edge and zero area, which takes up a finite amount of space.

                                        G Offline
                                        G Offline
                                        Gregory Gadow
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #19

                                        I'm surprised that no one has suggested fractals. The one I had in mind is called the Sierpinski Triangle. Observe: 1. Draw an equilateral triangle. 2. For each triangle, find the mid-point of its sides and draw lines connecting them, creating four triangles. 3. Remove the triangle in the middle, leaving three equilateral triangles connected at their vertices, each having three edges that are half of the starting triangle. 4. Go to step 2. The triangle starts with three edges of length x, so its total perimeter is 3x. After the first iteration, the shape has nine edges -- three on each of the three triangles -- each of which have a length of x/2, meaning the shape's total perimeter is 9x/2, longer than what we started with. After the first iteration, the area is 3/4 what it was before. As you continue with more iterations, the number of edges increases without bounds, and so does the shape's perimeter. As the number of iterations approaches infinity, so do the number of edges and, consequently, the length of its perimeter. Also, each iteration decreases the area geometrically: as the number of iterations approaches infinity, the area bound by the perimeter approaches zero. The shape itself never exceeds the bounds set by the starting triangle, which makes it finite. With a variant called the Sierpinski Carpet, you start with a single square, divide it into nine squares, remove the center one and repeat. Again, the number of edges and the perimeter approach infinity while the area bound by the perimeter approaches zero. There are also 3-d versions of these shapes, called sponges, which start with a tetrahedron and a cube respectively. Added: Oops, a bit of a screw up. The number of edges is doubled, not tripled; I was counting the starting edges of the triangle twice. The increase in the length of the perimeter is still 9x/2, however, as you have the three starting edges (x + x + x = 3x or 6x/2) plus the three edges of the now empty center triangle (x/2 + x/2 + x/2 = 3x/2)

                                        modified on Thursday, May 6, 2010 8:31 PM

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                                        • L Luc Pattyn

                                          you mean a hyperbole (which BTW has two asymptotes). "takes up a finite amount of space" is debatable now, you need a lot of space to store one without folding, bending or cutting it. :)

                                          Luc Pattyn [Forum Guidelines] [Why QA sucks] [My Articles]


                                          Prolific encyclopedia fixture proof-reader browser patron addict?
                                          We all depend on the beast below.


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                                          AspDotNetDev
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #20

                                          Luc Pattyn wrote:

                                          you mean a hyperbole

                                          NOW who's using hyperbole. ;P

                                          Luc Pattyn wrote:

                                          takes up a finite amount of space

                                          Depends on how you define space. If you consider bounding rectangle, it takes up infinite space. If you consider the bound between the equation and the axes, I'm pretty sure that area is finite (if I felt like polishing my calculus skills, I could probably calculate exactly how much that area is). If you consider the amount of volume the curve itself displaces, it would take up no space at all. :)

                                          [Forum Guidelines]

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