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Discussion » Questions » Education » Does 0 exist?

Does 0 exist?

Posted - September 16, 2021

Responses


  • 52905

    ~

      September 16, 2021 7:00 AM MDT
    3

  • 2969
    It seems to me like it has to exist, otherwise where would you put the 1. 







    This post was edited by Honey Dew at September 16, 2021 2:20 PM MDT
      September 16, 2021 8:35 AM MDT
    0

  • 52905

     

      (It seems to me like as if it has to exist,)

      September 16, 2021 2:33 PM MDT
    1

  • 52905

     

      Which “1”?????

    :|

      September 16, 2021 2:33 PM MDT
    1

  • 13251
    Huh?
      September 16, 2021 7:33 AM MDT
    2

  • 6023
    If it didn't, you wouldn't have been able to type it in the question.
    HA!
      September 16, 2021 9:22 AM MDT
    1

  • 2969
    You got me there, very observant.  :  )
      September 16, 2021 2:20 PM MDT
    1

  • 2217

    │ø│


      September 16, 2021 9:28 AM MDT
    2

  • 2217

    This may not be as smart as it seems. ││ can be understood to denote cardinality.

    However, it is moot whether 0 is a cardinal number (if it exists at all) . 

     

      September 21, 2021 1:35 PM MDT
    0

  • 10449
    Yes and no.  While 0 (zero) is a number, it's also the antithesis of infinity.  Most people can't comprehend 0 (zero).  We see 0 as nothingness.  However, since 0 both is and isn't nothingness, it requires us to recognize that the absence of something is a thing in and of itself.  Huh?  

    0 must exist otherwise we couldn't count. We couldn't answer that good old 4th grade math question - Sue has 5 apples.  If she gives John 7 apples, how many apples will she have left?  (-1)     {most of us got that one wrong on the quiz}

    Without 0 there would be no calculus.  And without calculus, numerous high school students would be happier.  Any parent will tell you that a happy high school student is one who's up to no good (curse you, Isaac Newton and Gottfried Leibniz!)
      September 16, 2021 3:47 PM MDT
    2

  • 16202
    The antithesis of infinity is iota - a number infinitely small but not equal to zero.
      September 17, 2021 11:42 PM MDT
    2

  • 13395
    0 exists in quantum mechanics, eg. quantum superposition of time equals 0 elapsed time.
      September 16, 2021 11:22 PM MDT
    2

  • 2969
    I like that explanation. 


    This post was edited by Honey Dew at September 17, 2021 5:23 PM MDT
      September 17, 2021 1:01 AM MDT
    2

  • 13395
    The problem with time being reduced to zero in quantum mechanics makes it near impossible for scientists to build a functioning quantum computer because when that computer spits out the solution it decoheres before it can be ' locked in'.  Kind of the same as Schrodinger's cat cannot be observed to be dead and alive at the same time in a 3 dimensional environment.
    It seems that quantum mechanics is based upon the concept of zero dimensional spacetime. This post was edited by Kittigate at September 17, 2021 11:15 PM MDT
      September 17, 2021 2:11 PM MDT
    1

  • 16202
    It exists as a mathematical concept, but does not correspond to any mass/time event.
      September 17, 2021 3:44 AM MDT
    2

  • 2969
    It sure does when I don't know what I am talking about...that = a big fat 0.
      September 17, 2021 4:06 PM MDT
    1

  • 52905

     

      It exists as a placeholder in some instances, therefore, it exists. I doubt that even a number line containing only positive and negative one-digit numbers would be accurate without a zero smack-dab in the middle of it. 


    ~

      September 17, 2021 6:50 PM MDT
    1

  • 10037
    This makes sense to me. Now you're a math teacher, too, Mr. D! Good job!
      September 17, 2021 8:42 PM MDT
    1

  • 52905

     

      You care! You really do, you care about me!
      (Sniff, sob.)

    ~

      September 17, 2021 9:39 PM MDT
    0