Ray's Maths Debunk Theory

[Ray The Grey]

There are a lot of misconceptions that have been put around for so long that people have stopped questioning them. I have spent some time considering things....

1/ Zero. This means nothing. 0 Ants = 0 Suns. This is an enitirely theoretical concept that has no place in a realistic world view

2/ Negative Numbers. These do not exist. You are either using the wrong scale, the items are somewhere else & positive overall, they exist in a different state & have not been made yet or they do not exist. It is just an accounting trick.

3/ Calculus/Equations. Two things only really equal each other in theory. a = 1/2a +1/2a. Almost in every real case this is not true. If a is an object - such as an apple - two halves of an apple do not equal one apple.Their properties have changed and they are not recombinable. If the halves of the apple are only nominally divided then they are not 1/2a + 1/2a - it is only a theoretical division. In real divison/subtraction/multiplication/addition the value of a changes according to how many there are/how it is divided. Any practical equating of values is almost invariably incorrect. 50p=25p+25p :in financial terms two lots of 25p do not have the same value as 50p unless undivided. 2 halves of a football are not the same as one football, even if it is only a nominal division, ie sharing between 2 people. The ball loses value. Also multiplication

If John has two apples & gives Mark an apple. He has one apple, he also has goodwill/hunger/ a reputation for giving apples away. One apple each does not mean the same value for the apples as one person having two apples - re:nutrition/finance/other.

4/ Infinity. This cannot exist in any form or else quite simply everything that is possible must happen all the time.

These 4 concepts are just theoretical.

I look forward to testing my hypothesis. 

[THECORBYLOON]

Regarding infinity, numbers are infinite or do you know what the final number is?

[rojash]

I think it's time we had a new AB category called "QAWDOS":
i.e. "Questions Asked When Drunk Or Stoned".

[fordward]

And so to bed

[Marsh]

I agree, Ray.  Maths is not the real world.  It's a parallel universe filled with computer images.  Copying what can be seen there has proved to be incredibly useful but you mustn't do it indiscriminately.  Take fractions, for example. 
Can you have half a piece of bread?  No, as soon as you break it in half you have two pieces of bread.  Can you have half a slice of bread?  No, not exactly.  But yes, approximately, and that's good enough if you're not too hungry.
Here's a point.  It has zero length, zero width and zero height and no weight (although it can have a shape).  Put enough of them together and you get a line which does have a length but not width or height.  Enough lines side by side and you get an area which has width but not height.  Enough areas and there's a volume.  Add enough zeros together and you've built the universe.  Ridiculous, yes, but if you can suspend disbelief, you can get help with practical problems   How many cubic centimetres are there in a pint of beer?  Measuring beer in cubes doesn't seem sensible but it works � often in the landlord's favour.
I believe that Maths is like most things, to be enjoyed in moderation but you mustn't overdo it.
 Incidentally, a while ago Bernado did a very nice posting applying numbers to sheep.  Unfortunately, I can't find it again, Perhaps he could point us there.

[Marsh]

Sorry, I should have higlighted Bernado.

[Ray The Grey]

Hello THECORBYLOON. Numbers are used to count things - actual things. If there is something it can be counted - hence real numbers. Just saying a number beyond counting means being entirely theoretical. This is a concept not a reality. Belief in infinity strikes me as vey similar to a religious belief - the explanation for the answer to "what is the square root of minus infinity" is as bizarre as any religious phenomenon

Hello Rojash. Your clever refutation of my ideas puts me to shame. I am abased before your wit and intelligent arguments.

May a fine night's rest befall you, fordward, in Pepysian fashion

Hello March. A point has width, depth and height along with properties in other dimensions. It is infinitessimally small, but by multiplying this it ineveitably grows in size. Mathematics can have practical applications, but the myths remain that the concepts are real and the answers precise. I refute these absolutely.

One of my gripes with mathematical functions is that we are expected to accept them, but they assume identical objects are a possibility and normally ignore relative values and situations. I have a wide knowledge of mathematics and science, as well - believe it or not.