I'm pretty sure this is entirely wrong... the whole point of maths is that you can systematically prove everything you do. From the very basics, we have one item, and we get another of the same item, and we now have 2 items, and that is how the most basic operation is defined. It works, it can be proven, and from there all the more complicated stuff works as well, all with nice tasty proof.
How do you know there is only one item? Define one? Isn't one just a piece of the whole? Can you explain the need for imaginary numbers? Just some things to ponder
Yes Ed is right. Calvin doesn't really understand how math works. It's almost as if Calvin is inventing something preposterous so he doesn't have to do his homework. Good catch Ed.
And yet, the basis of mathematics is simple assumptions...all the way down to assuming that '3 equals 3' by counting the fingers on your hand. Most religions may seem absolutely hokey in their reasoning, but centuries ago they made every bit as much sense as mathematics does today. And yes, math was around then, too, but religion in some form has been around just as long as any mathematics used by humans. There's just no way to know if math means anything at all, or is just another way of interpreting the patterns we see in the universe...
Calvin is totally right, axioms have to be accepted on faith and might even be meaningless. As the person above me said, what exactly is an imaginary number? And by the way, what is the angle of parallelism? Anyone ever heard of Godel's proof...?
There's more to maths than just mathematical axioms. All mathematical theorems also heavily rely on logical axioms and all derived theorems, which aren't exactly mathematics.
Mathematics are different from religion because mathematical axioms are abstract, while God is presented as a REAL entity. When you say "God (assuming it's properly defined) is real", you're saying something about reality. Axioms are abstract, and don't rely on reality on any way. For this reason, maths are not based on faith, because they only explain what conclusions we can make based on these axioms, they don't DEMAND that you BELIEVE in them in any way, nor do they pretend to tell you anything about reality. Only those who use mathematics to defend their claims about reality demand that you assume anything, really.
There is no proof for addition because addition is a definition of a basic function. An egg is called an egg because its defined that way, there is no way to prove it, that's just what we've decided.
In the end math itself is an entirely artificial construct of thought, numbers are just ideas. You can have a single item, but in the end it has no relation to the number 1 except by the definition of 1.
As Tom said, Godel's Incompleteness Theorem proves that certain axioms are fundamentally unprovable (and additionally, that an infinite set of such axioms does exist). There. Math = Religion. (That theorem I argue is also unprovable).
ha ha, I'm ok with imaginary numbers :-) but have you ever heard of Happy numbers, unhappy numbers, cute numbers and NUDE numbers. Yes there are such things (so we are told). Real numbers anyone? H
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I'm pretty sure this is entirely wrong... the whole point of maths is that you can systematically prove everything you do.
From the very basics, we have one item, and we get another of the same item, and we now have 2 items, and that is how the most basic operation is defined.
It works, it can be proven, and from there all the more complicated stuff works as well, all with nice tasty proof.
How do you know there is only one item? Define one? Isn't one just a piece of the whole? Can you explain the need for imaginary numbers? Just some things to ponder
It's a comic retard. Supposed to be funny, not taken seriously.
Yes Ed is right. Calvin doesn't really understand how math works. It's almost as if Calvin is inventing something preposterous so he doesn't have to do his homework.
Good catch Ed.
Blasphemy!!!
Ed, did you really just argue the validity of a children's comic strip?
And yet, the basis of mathematics is simple assumptions...all the way down to assuming that '3 equals 3' by counting the fingers on your hand. Most religions may seem absolutely hokey in their reasoning, but centuries ago they made every bit as much sense as mathematics does today. And yes, math was around then, too, but religion in some form has been around just as long as any mathematics used by humans. There's just no way to know if math means anything at all, or is just another way of interpreting the patterns we see in the universe...
and you totally did not get the joke.
and you totally did not get the joke.
@Ed: There actually is no direct proof on how addition works. Take a graduate level proofs class, it blows. I believe Calvin
Guys ... it is a comic strip. It is hilarious!!
Ed you sad sad pillock
Well, when u really do maths, u can prove that some axioms can Not be proven.
I feel sorry for destroying your convictions poor Ed ...
Calvin is totally right, axioms have to be accepted on faith and might even be meaningless. As the person above me said, what exactly is an imaginary number? And by the way, what is the angle of parallelism? Anyone ever heard of Godel's proof...?
There's more to maths than just mathematical axioms. All mathematical theorems also heavily rely on logical axioms and all derived theorems, which aren't exactly mathematics.
Mathematics are different from religion because mathematical axioms are abstract, while God is presented as a REAL entity. When you say "God (assuming it's properly defined) is real", you're saying something about reality. Axioms are abstract, and don't rely on reality on any way. For this reason, maths are not based on faith, because they only explain what conclusions we can make based on these axioms, they don't DEMAND that you BELIEVE in them in any way, nor do they pretend to tell you anything about reality. Only those who use mathematics to defend their claims about reality demand that you assume anything, really.
Yes,sir, you win. That mathematics neither demands we believe, nor pretends to tell us anything about reality is the clincher. well put!
There is no proof for addition because addition is a definition of a basic function. An egg is called an egg because its defined that way, there is no way to prove it, that's just what we've decided.
In the end math itself is an entirely artificial construct of thought, numbers are just ideas. You can have a single item, but in the end it has no relation to the number 1 except by the definition of 1.
As Tom said, Godel's Incompleteness Theorem proves that certain axioms are fundamentally unprovable (and additionally, that an infinite set of such axioms does exist). There. Math = Religion. (That theorem I argue is also unprovable).
ha ha, I'm ok with imaginary numbers :-) but have you ever heard of Happy numbers, unhappy numbers, cute numbers and NUDE numbers. Yes there are such things (so we are told).
Real numbers anyone?
H
You shall never let your knowledge prevents you to have fun.
Math's student who prefears to laugh after reading a comic strip than discuss.
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