алгебраический «n»

English translation: algebraic number "n"

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Russian term or phrase:алгебраический «n»
English translation:algebraic number "n"
Entered by: David Knowles

23:37 Nov 26, 2005
Russian to English translations [PRO]
Science - Mathematics & Statistics
Russian term or phrase: алгебраический «n»
Any mathemeticians here?

The context is: a prisoner comments that the concept of "worse" actually

это тот алгебраический «n», к которому всегда можно прибавить единицу!

I initially translated this as "the number pi, which can be extended to infinity." It was pointed out to me that this is not precise, because the number pi will never exceed 3.2, but her concept of "worse" is something that gets continually (exponentially?) larger.

Thanks!
Deborah Hoffman
Local time: 12:22
It's that algebraic number "n", to which you can always add one.
Explanation:
It's the idea that whatever the number, you can always find another number one larger.
Selected response from:

David Knowles
Local time: 16:22
Grading comment
Thank you!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +10It's that algebraic number "n", to which you can always add one.
David Knowles


Discussion entries: 6





  

Answers


4 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +10
алгебраический «n»
It's that algebraic number "n", to which you can always add one.


Explanation:
It's the idea that whatever the number, you can always find another number one larger.

David Knowles
Local time: 16:22
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 31
Grading comment
Thank you!

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Natalie: exactly!
9 mins
  -> Thanks

agree  Simon Gregory: Never a situation can’t be so bad that afterwards it does not become ultimately much worse.
45 mins
  -> Yes, that must be what it means

agree  Mikhail Kriviniouk: if we consider "awful" to be 110% bad, then it would be impossible, because however bad one's situation is, one can always imagine the same plus syphilis and a .45 being pointed to one's head on top, no? ultimate cure for depression :))
1 hr
  -> interesting fantasies you have!

agree  Nik-On/Off
5 hrs
  -> Thanks

agree  Mikhail Kropotov: Yes, it's N and not Pi.
5 hrs
  -> Yes, I wondered where Pi had come from, but I realised it could have been a cyrillic cursive p (not that that would have represented Pi).

agree  mk_lab
10 hrs
  -> Thanks

agree  Olga B
17 hrs

agree  Yuri Geifman: n+1, I still remember that from high school
22 hrs

agree  Kirill Semenov: Sure, it's a well known mathematical idea that there isn't the `largest' whole number. Whenever you name a large one, you can always - theoretically - add 1 to it and get even larger number. :)
1 day 18 hrs

agree  Dorene Cornwell: It's that algebraic "n" (forget the "number")
2 days 35 mins
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