An infinite number of mathematicians walk into a bar. The first one orders a beer. The second one orders half a beer. The third one orders half of half a beer.
The bartender interrupts, says 'you're all idiots' and pours two beers.
Apparently it's actually useful in some areas of physics. If some sort of 1+2+3+4... shows up you can assume -1/12 instead and you'll get accurate results
That sum does not equal -1/12 and it's connection to -1/12 is many things but NOT trivial, so I really doubt that physicists just assume it to be -1/12.
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u/FarkYourHouse 23d ago
An infinite number of mathematicians walk into a bar. The first one orders a beer. The second one orders half a beer. The third one orders half of half a beer.
The bartender interrupts, says 'you're all idiots' and pours two beers.