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Re: A modest proposal (was Calculus XOR Probability)

Subject: Re: A modest proposal was Calculus XOR Probability
From: Denis Feldmann
Date: Thu, 06 Apr 2006 17:55:55 +0200
Newsgroups: sci.math
Han de Bruijn a écrit :
Denis Feldmann wrote:

Here is what comes closest to HdB "ideas" : take a non standard integer N ("infinite", ie greater than all standard ones, of course). Define the measure of a standard set of integers A as p(A)= the sum of 1/N for all n <N in A* (A* is the extension of A to the non-standard integers) For instance, p("n is even")= 1/2 or 1/2-1/N according as N is even or odd; and the shadow of p(A), p°(A), is a real having "almost" the properties of a probability (could it be the density :-)), while p(A) *is* (of course) a discrete measure... and so additive. Note that with this definition, p(n=42)=1/N and the shadow p°(n=42)= 0, according to HdB "intuitions". Note also that the main point of contention (ie p(A), or p°(A)are nor probabilities (ie not countably additive)) is somewhat shunted...

Why a "non standard" integer? Why is "large enough for our purpose" not
good enough?

If you need to ask, you will never understand. All this talk breaks down at infinity


And haven't we already gone through all this with David C.
Ullrich in our company? Failing upon a Transfer Principle or some such.


It only makes impossible the result you want, ie a countably additive measure. Except you dont want it...

Han de Bruijn


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