The term infinity conveys the mathematical concept of large without bound, and is given the symbol . As children, we learn to count, and are pleased when first we count to 10, then 100, and then 1,000. By the time we reach 1,000, we may realize that counting to 2,000, or certainly 100,000, is not worth the effort. This is partly because we have better things to do, and partly because we realize no matter how high we count, it is always possible to count higher. At this point we are introduced to the infinite, and begin to realize what infinity is and is not.

Infinity is not the largest number. It is the term we use to convey the notion that there is no largest number. We say there is an infinite number of numbers.

There are aspects of the infinite that are not altogether intuitive, however. For example, at first glance there would...