Infinity symbol Infinity symbol The infinity symbol (sometimes called the lemniscate) is a mathematical symbol representing the concept of infinity. The shape of a sideways figure eight has a long pedigree; for instance, it appears in the cross of Saint Boniface, wrapped around the bars of a Latin cross. However, John Wallis is credited with introducing the infinity symbol with its mathematical meaning in 1655, in his "De sectionibus conicis". Wallis did not explain his choice of this symbol, but it has been conjectured to be a variant form of a Roman numeral for 1,000 (originally CIƆ, also CƆ), which was sometimes
Actual infinity actu non datur" as an irrefutable principle. (G. Cantor [3, p. 174]) The number of points in a segment one ell long is its true measure. (R. Grosseteste [9, p. 96]) Actual infinity exists in number, time and quantity. (J. Baconthorpe [9, p. 96]) During the Renaissance and by early modern times the voices in favor of actual infinity were rather rare. The continuum actually consists of infinitely many indivisibles (G. Galilei [9, p. 97]) I am so in favour of actual infinity. (G.W. Leibniz [9, p. 97]) The majority agreed with the well-known quote of Gauss: I protest against