相关论文: How real are real numbers?

In this paper we show how to apply various techniques and theorems (including Pincherle's theorem, an extension of Euler's formula equating infinite series and continued fractions, an extension of the corresponding transformation that…

We give metric theorems for the property of Borel normality for real numbers under the assumption of digit dependencies in their expansion in a given integer base. We quantify precisely how much digit dependence can be allowed such that,…

Let $K\subset R^n$ be a compact basic semi-algebraic set. We provide a necessary and sufficient condition (with no a priori bounding parameter) for a real sequence $y=(y_\alpha)$, $\alpha\in N^n$, to have a finite representing Borel measure…

Some criticisms that have been raised against the Cox approach to probability theory are addressed. Should we use a single real number to measure a degree of rational belief? Can beliefs be compared? Are the Cox axioms obvious? Are there…

From the premise that an observable is real after it is measured, we envisage a tomography-based protocol that allows us to propose a quantifier for the degree of indefiniteness of an observable given a quantum state. Then, we find that the…

A century ago, discoveries of a serious kind of logical error made separately by several leading mathematicians led to acceptance of a sharply enhanced standard for rigor within what ultimately became the foundation for Computer Science. By…

All sciences need and many arts apply mathematics whereas mathematics seems to be independent of all of them, but only based upon logic. This conservative concept, however, needs to be revised because, contrary to Platonic idealism…

This paper looks at how ancient mathematicians (and especially the Pythagorean school) were faced by problems/paradoxes associated with the infinite which led them to juggle two systems of numbers: the discrete whole/rationals which were…

In this article, we explore the notion of infinity by studying Cantor's contribution to this field. A brief history of set theory is given. As an example of infinity, we consider Hilbert's famous hotel. A graphical construction is used to…

Philosopher Benardete challenged both the conventional wisdom and the received mathematical treatment of zero, dot, nine recurring. An initially puzzling passage in Benardete on the intelligibility of the continuum reveals challenging…

This paper consists of three separate articles on the number of fundamental dimensionful constants in physics. We started our debate in summer 1992 on the terrace of the famous CERN cafeteria. In the summer of 2001 we returned to the…

It is shown that any denumerable list L to which Cantor's diagonal method was applied is incomplete. However, this doesn't allow us to affirm that the cardinality of the real numbers of the interval [0, 1] is greater than the cardinality of…

This paper is about the metaphysical debate whether objects persist over time by the selfsame object existing at different times (nowadays called `endurance' by metaphysicians), or by different temporal parts, or stages, existing at…

It is well known that the arithmetic nature of Mills' prime-representing constant is uncertain: we do not know if Mills' constant is a rational or irrational number. In the case of other prime-representing constants, irrationality can be…

This survey article is the outgrowth of two talks given at the Journ\'ees X-UPS "P\'eriodes et transcendance" at \'Ecole polytechnique. Periods are complex numbers whose real and imaginary parts can be written as integrals of rational…

In the first part of this expository paper, we present and discuss the interplay of Dirichlet polynomials in some classical problems of number theory, notably the Lindel\"of Hypothesis. We review some typical properties of their means and…

In recent publications in physics and mathematics, concerns have been raised about the use of real numbers to describe quantities in physics, and in particular about the usual assumption that physical quantities are infinitely precise. In…

We argue about the following concepts:(i)introduction of endo and exo-observer of a physical system (ii) possible relation between endo, exo-observer and continuum/discrete nature of the same system (iii)the distinction about two categories…

Mathematicians like Markov and Bishop made an effort to develop constructive mathematics and extended many theorems in classical mathematical analysis. Heine Borel theorem tells us that a closed bounded subset of Euclidean space R is…

We study the randomness properties of reals with respect to arbitrary probability measures on Cantor space. We show that every non-computable real is non-trivially random with respect to some measure. The probability measures constructed in…