do you believe in the number "zero?"

  • 55 results
  • 1
  • 2

This topic is locked from further discussion.

Avatar image for 4myAmuzumament
4myAmuzumament

1791

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#1  Edited By 4myAmuzumament
Member since 2013 • 1791 Posts

As you know, nothing literally does not exist. Not in any form. simply because something exists and nothing doesn't exist.

Can zero really be classified as a number when it isn't a real thing?

discuss

Avatar image for Master_Live
Master_Live

20510

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 7

#2 Master_Live
Member since 2004 • 20510 Posts

I believe in Harvey Dent.

Avatar image for MrGeezer
MrGeezer

59765

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#3 MrGeezer
Member since 2002 • 59765 Posts

@4myAmuzumament said:

As you know, nothing literally does not exist. Not in any form. simply because something exists and nothing doesn't exist.

Can zero really be classified as a number when it isn't a real thing?

discuss

Nothing can exist in certain contexts. The thing to remember here is that the numbers actually refer to things. Numbers are used to describe reality, and that description is context-specific. If I'm on an island and if there are no apples on that island, and if I'm using numbers to describe the number of apples on that island, then it's fair to say that the number is zero. Why? Because in reality, there aren't any apples on that island.

Of course, that's just based on my personal perception. The real question is if a mathematical model that DOESN'T contain zero would work better than the ones that do. And that's a question for the mathematicians of OT, I don't know enough to state whether or not there are better models or systems to use.

Avatar image for br0kenrabbit
br0kenrabbit

17851

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 10

User Lists: 0

#4 br0kenrabbit
Member since 2004 • 17851 Posts

Avatar image for lostrib
lostrib

49999

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 0

#5 lostrib
Member since 2009 • 49999 Posts

Don't do drugs, kids

Avatar image for lightleggy
lightleggy

16090

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 65

User Lists: 0

#6  Edited By lightleggy
Member since 2008 • 16090 Posts

@4myAmuzumament said:

As you know, nothing literally does not exist. Not in any form. simply because something exists and nothing doesn't exist.

Can zero really be classified as a number when it isn't a real thing?

discuss

Did you know that ancient egyptians didn't "believed" in 0? They're math included no 0 at all.

Then they kind of realized the 0 was necessary for math to work as an exact science, and 0 has existed ever since.

Now I'm no mathmatician, but I'm guessing that if they had to add 0 just because they realized that they're math wasn't working that well, then 0 must be pretty important.

Avatar image for br0kenrabbit
br0kenrabbit

17851

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 10

User Lists: 0

#7  Edited By br0kenrabbit
Member since 2004 • 17851 Posts

@lightleggy said:

Did you know that ancient egyptians didn't "believed" in 0? They're math included no 0 at all.

Then they kind of realized the 0 was necessary for math to work as an exact science, and 0 has existed ever since.

Now I'm no mathmatician, but I'm guessing that if they had to add 0 just because they realized that they're math wasn't working that well, then 0 must be pretty important.

In the old world, the concept of 0 was invented in India in about the fifth century CE. In the Americas, the Mayans had independently developed the concept about 300 years earlier.

Avatar image for MrGeezer
MrGeezer

59765

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#8 MrGeezer
Member since 2002 • 59765 Posts

@lightleggy said:

@4myAmuzumament said:

As you know, nothing literally does not exist. Not in any form. simply because something exists and nothing doesn't exist.

Can zero really be classified as a number when it isn't a real thing?

discuss

Did you know that ancient egyptians didn't "believed" in 0? They're math included no 0 at all.

Then they kind of realized the 0 was necessary for math to work as an exact science, and 0 has existed ever since.

Now I'm no mathmatician, but I'm guessing that if they had to add 0 just because they realized that they're math wasn't working that well, then 0 must be pretty important.

And that's a bit more concise than what I was saying.

Modern mathematicians aren't exactly f***ing stupid. They're aware that non-zero mathematical models have existed before, and there are probably lots of then nerdy enough to see what would happen if they tried to use a non-zero mathematical model today. Someone far smarter than any of us has tried this, I f***ing guarantee it.

And yet, today, everyone f***ing uses zero. I strongly suspect that that's because using zero just plain works a lot better than NOT using zero. If not using zero actually worked better, then they'd be f***ing doing it.

Avatar image for coolbeans90
coolbeans90

21305

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#9 coolbeans90
Member since 2009 • 21305 Posts

i believe in love

Avatar image for Ace6301
Ace6301

21389

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 0

#10  Edited By Ace6301
Member since 2005 • 21389 Posts

If nothing doesn't exist then how does science explain how few fucks I give?

I think that's a better philosophical question personally.

Avatar image for t1striker
t1striker

1549

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 3

User Lists: 0

#11 t1striker
Member since 2003 • 1549 Posts

Zero is a symbol of a number, and this symbol is used everyday. If we didn't have the symbol 0 then this world would be quite different. Things wouldn't run the way they do, and Math would be a mess.

102 wouldn't be able to exist without zero, but 112 could. 0 doesn't just mean nothing.

Avatar image for hippiesanta
hippiesanta

10301

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 4

User Lists: 0

#12 hippiesanta
Member since 2005 • 10301 Posts

yes .... it represent Atheist and PETA

Avatar image for nigellalawson30
nigellalawson30

33

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 5

#13 nigellalawson30
Member since 2014 • 33 Posts

yes i do cause every single value is dependent on it......

Avatar image for elkoldo
elkoldo

1832

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#14 elkoldo
Member since 2009 • 1832 Posts

@4myAmuzumament: When you say "nothing literally does not exist "

I fail to catch your point, mind explaining a bit more? (I mean which is your point, "nothing exists " or "everything, to some degree, exists" ? )

Avatar image for AmazonTreeBoa
AmazonTreeBoa

16745

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#16 AmazonTreeBoa
Member since 2011 • 16745 Posts

Avatar image for elkoldo
elkoldo

1832

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#17 elkoldo
Member since 2009 • 1832 Posts

No, no one called spiderman as far as I could tell

;)

Avatar image for 4myAmuzumament
4myAmuzumament

1791

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#18 4myAmuzumament
Member since 2013 • 1791 Posts

@elkoldo said:

@4myAmuzumament: When you say "nothing literally does not exist "

I fail to catch your point, mind explaining a bit more? (I mean which is your point, "nothing exists " or "everything, to some degree, exists" ? )

I mean that there is no such thing as nothing. This stems from my belief that something cannot come from nothing, meaning that there has always been something and never nothing. Zero is a symbol for nothing being there, but that nothing, isn't real.

Avatar image for 4myAmuzumament
4myAmuzumament

1791

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#19 4myAmuzumament
Member since 2013 • 1791 Posts

@thegerg said:

@4myAmuzumament: You seem to be confused. There are things that literally do not exist.

i think you're the one that is confused. i know that there are things that do not exist, but there is no such thing as nothing.

Avatar image for clarinetguy097
clarinetguy097

83

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#20 clarinetguy097
Member since 2009 • 83 Posts

Zero is a mathematical concept used as a placeholder or to symbolize that none of a given quantity exists.

Numbers in general are simply abstract symbols used to describe the world. Negative numbers and imaginary numbers can't even be visualized concretely, but they're still used because they have applications in mathematics. It's kind of like that with zero.

Avatar image for Jd1680a
Jd1680a

5960

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 38

User Lists: 0

#21 Jd1680a
Member since 2005 • 5960 Posts

Neo might agree there is no spoon.

Avatar image for deactivated-5acfa3a8bc51d
deactivated-5acfa3a8bc51d

7914

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 2

User Lists: 0

#22  Edited By deactivated-5acfa3a8bc51d
Member since 2005 • 7914 Posts

Math is great, it isn't a pagan belief

Avatar image for HoolaHoopMan
HoolaHoopMan

14724

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#23 HoolaHoopMan
Member since 2009 • 14724 Posts

Zero is definitely a number.

Avatar image for Sword-Demon
Sword-Demon

7007

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 0

#24 Sword-Demon
Member since 2008 • 7007 Posts

Zero is obviously a number, but I get what you're saying - "nothing" is the absence of "something", so zero is a purely conceptual number, as an absence doesn't physically exist; it's an idea.

What you're debating is whether or not zero is a natural number.

I don't think zero is truly a natural number, but should be counted as one for convenience's sake.

Avatar image for MonsieurX
MonsieurX

39858

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#25  Edited By MonsieurX
Member since 2008 • 39858 Posts

Negatives shouldn't count then?

You can't have -1 apple.

Avatar image for 4myAmuzumament
4myAmuzumament

1791

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#26 4myAmuzumament
Member since 2013 • 1791 Posts
@lostrib said:

Don't do drugs, kids

Avatar image for themajormayor
themajormayor

25729

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#27 themajormayor
Member since 2011 • 25729 Posts
@thegerg said:

@4myAmuzumament: You seem to be confused. There are things that literally do not exist.

Yes and nothing is one of them.

Avatar image for Makhaidos
Makhaidos

2162

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#28 Makhaidos
Member since 2013 • 2162 Posts

Forget zero; the square root of -1 equals an imaginary number that still somehow has real mathematical applications. Fucking numbers.

Avatar image for 4myAmuzumament
4myAmuzumament

1791

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#29  Edited By 4myAmuzumament
Member since 2013 • 1791 Posts
@MonsieurX said:

Negatives shouldn't count then?

You can't have -1 apple.

correct.

Avatar image for MonsieurX
MonsieurX

39858

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#30  Edited By MonsieurX
Member since 2008 • 39858 Posts

@4myAmuzumament said:
@MonsieurX said:

Negatives shouldn't count then?

You can't have -1 apple.

correct.

So,what happens if you have 5$ but have a dept of 10$?

Avatar image for 4myAmuzumament
4myAmuzumament

1791

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#31 4myAmuzumament
Member since 2013 • 1791 Posts

@Sword-Demon said:

Zero is obviously a number, but I get what you're saying - "nothing" is the absence of "something", so zero is a purely conceptual number, as an absence doesn't physically exist; it's an idea.

What you're debating is whether or not zero is a natural number.

I don't think zero is truly a natural number, but should be counted as one for convenience's sake.

this guy gets it/me.

but now I have a new question. when my GPS is on and it's telling me how many miles to drive before the next step, it will sometimes say, "in point five miles, bear right."

do you say 0.5 mile since it's less than a mile, or 0.5 miles because the 5 pluralizes it?

would you say 0.999... mile since 0.999...=1, or would you say 0.999...miles since the 9 is plural?

Avatar image for 4myAmuzumament
4myAmuzumament

1791

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#32 4myAmuzumament
Member since 2013 • 1791 Posts

@MonsieurX said:

@4myAmuzumament said:
@MonsieurX said:

Negatives shouldn't count then?

You can't have -1 apple.

correct.

So,what happens if you have 5$ but have a dept of 10$?

Well, I can't pay off my debt so I'll just hold on to the cash and go halfsies.

Avatar image for jun_aka_pekto
jun_aka_pekto

25255

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 0

#33 jun_aka_pekto
Member since 2010 • 25255 Posts

You're referring to an inherent zero. There is such a thing as a non-inherent zero, you know.

Avatar image for 4myAmuzumament
4myAmuzumament

1791

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#34  Edited By 4myAmuzumament
Member since 2013 • 1791 Posts

@jun_aka_pekto said:

You're referring to an inherent zero. There is such a thing as a non-inherent zero, you know.

i have no knowledge of such things: non-inherent and inherent zeros. can you explain/elaborate on what they are? online descriptions aren't helping me.

Avatar image for lamprey263
lamprey263

44503

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 10

User Lists: 0

#35  Edited By lamprey263
Member since 2006 • 44503 Posts

how many men have you cornholed TC?

and answer with a rational number

Avatar image for jun_aka_pekto
jun_aka_pekto

25255

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 0

#36 jun_aka_pekto
Member since 2010 • 25255 Posts

@4myAmuzumament said:

@jun_aka_pekto said:

You're referring to an inherent zero. There is such a thing as a non-inherent zero, you know.

i have no knowledge of such things: non-inherent and inherent zeros. can you explain/elaborate on what they are? online descriptions aren't helping me.

Just Google it. I'm busy with replaying Far Cry 3. Here. Just for you. ;)

Avatar image for 4myAmuzumament
4myAmuzumament

1791

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#37  Edited By 4myAmuzumament
Member since 2013 • 1791 Posts

@jun_aka_pekto: i give that picture a 0/10. it means nothing to me.

Avatar image for Sword-Demon
Sword-Demon

7007

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 0

#38 Sword-Demon
Member since 2008 • 7007 Posts

@4myAmuzumament said:

@Sword-Demon said:

Zero is obviously a number, but I get what you're saying - "nothing" is the absence of "something", so zero is a purely conceptual number, as an absence doesn't physically exist; it's an idea.

What you're debating is whether or not zero is a natural number.

I don't think zero is truly a natural number, but should be counted as one for convenience's sake.

this guy gets it/me.

but now I have a new question. when my GPS is on and it's telling me how many miles to drive before the next step, it will sometimes say, "in point five miles, bear right."

do you say 0.5 mile since it's less than a mile, or 0.5 miles because the 5 pluralizes it?

would you say 0.999... mile since 0.999...=1, or would you say 0.999...miles since the 9 is plural?

I say miles, but I think, grammatically, it's supposed to be mile

Avatar image for cain006
cain006

8625

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 38

User Lists: 0

#39 cain006
Member since 2008 • 8625 Posts

Ha my dad took a class in college I think called the theory of zero. There was also one about the number one.

Avatar image for themajormayor
themajormayor

25729

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#40 themajormayor
Member since 2011 • 25729 Posts

BTW it must be hard for thegerg getting schooled time and time again.

Avatar image for deactivated-5b1e62582e305
deactivated-5b1e62582e305

30778

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 3

User Lists: 0

#41 deactivated-5b1e62582e305
Member since 2004 • 30778 Posts

@themajormayor said:

BTW it must be hard for thegerg getting schooled time and time again.

Pretty sure he's just an internet bot or viral marketer for some obscure indie game, bro.

Avatar image for jun_aka_pekto
jun_aka_pekto

25255

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 0

#42 jun_aka_pekto
Member since 2010 • 25255 Posts

@4myAmuzumament said:

@jun_aka_pekto: i give that picture a 0/10. it means nothing to me.

Of course not.

It meant something to me, not you. I don't get to play many games for long stretches. So, I make the best of it when the opportunity presents itself.

Avatar image for alim298
alim298

2747

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 2

User Lists: 0

#43 alim298
Member since 2012 • 2747 Posts

Where is mrmusicman247 ? Maybe he found this thread too cliched...

Avatar image for clarinetguy097
clarinetguy097

83

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#44 clarinetguy097
Member since 2009 • 83 Posts
@4myAmuzumament said:

@Sword-Demon said:

Zero is obviously a number, but I get what you're saying - "nothing" is the absence of "something", so zero is a purely conceptual number, as an absence doesn't physically exist; it's an idea.

What you're debating is whether or not zero is a natural number.

I don't think zero is truly a natural number, but should be counted as one for convenience's sake.

this guy gets it/me.

but now I have a new question. when my GPS is on and it's telling me how many miles to drive before the next step, it will sometimes say, "in point five miles, bear right."

do you say 0.5 mile since it's less than a mile, or 0.5 miles because the 5 pluralizes it?

would you say 0.999... mile since 0.999...=1, or would you say 0.999...miles since the 9 is plural?

0.5 miles because the plural form is also used for fractions.

.999 mile because it can't be expressed as a fraction but is still equal to one.

Avatar image for theone86
theone86

22669

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 3

User Lists: 0

#45  Edited By theone86
Member since 2003 • 22669 Posts

@4myAmuzumament said:

As you know, nothing literally does not exist. Not in any form. simply because something exists and nothing doesn't exist.

Can zero really be classified as a number when it isn't a real thing?

discuss

How do you know nothing doesn't exist? If it existed could you perceive it? Furthermore, would existing be the right word for it? Wouldn't the right phrase possibly be that nothing non-exists?

Avatar image for one_plum
one_plum

6816

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#46  Edited By one_plum
Member since 2009 • 6816 Posts

Yeah, I saw a lot of those in high school.

Avatar image for curono
curono

7722

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 21

User Lists: 0

#47 curono
Member since 2005 • 7722 Posts

@4myAmuzumament said:

As you know, nothing literally does not exist. Not in any form. simply because something exists and nothing doesn't exist.

Can zero really be classified as a number when it isn't a real thing?

discuss

Oh my god... Really? REALLY?? Welcome to mayans. Like, seriously. You are on the "discover math" like a millenia and a half behind.

Avatar image for chessmaster1989
chessmaster1989

30203

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 8

User Lists: 0

#48  Edited By chessmaster1989
Member since 2008 • 30203 Posts
@MonsieurX said:

Negatives shouldn't count then?

You can't have -1 apple.

Sure you can it just means you consume -1 apples and are worse off than if you consumed 0 apples.

Avatar image for Sword-Demon
Sword-Demon

7007

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 0

#49 Sword-Demon
Member since 2008 • 7007 Posts

@theone86 said:

@4myAmuzumament said:

As you know, nothing literally does not exist. Not in any form. simply because something exists and nothing doesn't exist.

Can zero really be classified as a number when it isn't a real thing?

discuss

How do you know nothing doesn't exist? If it existed could you perceive it? Furthermore, would existing be the right word for it? Wouldn't the right phrase possibly be that nothing non-exists?

If it existed, then it wouldn't be nothing

Avatar image for SolidSnake35
SolidSnake35

58971

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 7

User Lists: 3

#50  Edited By SolidSnake35
Member since 2005 • 58971 Posts

Numbers are impossible. How can 2 exist after 1 if there are an infinite number of decimal values in between. It's all a fabrication created by scientists to shift funding away from the humanities. They would've gotten away with it too, if it wasn't for me.