Math Is Fun Forum
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#1 2013-11-13 21:06:52
- Debanjan
- Member
- Registered: 2013-11-13
- Posts: 4
Why we need numbers ?
This is my fervent need to know. Why we use numbers ?
Is it possible to explain with a number system every abstract and subjective thing like say thoughts , emotions , feelings and so forth..
I would be grateful for your answer.
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#2 2013-11-13 22:15:53
- niharika_kumar
- Member
- From: Numeraland
- Registered: 2013-02-12
- Posts: 1,062
Re: Why we need numbers ?
I feel that we use numbers to see the practical side of things that is opposite of the emotional side.
It helps to keep us balanced by not making us an emotional fool.
note:this is my personal opinion and i don't mean to hurt anyone's feeliings.
friendship is tan 90°.
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#3 2013-11-14 00:05:29
Re: Why we need numbers ?
Is it possible to explain with a number system every abstract and subjective thing like say thoughts , emotions , feelings and so forth..
If the mighty pythagoras was with us today he would say so. But that is fortunately not true.
What use is the quadratic formula in our daily lives? Can we use it to unlock the secrets in the hearts of those we love?
'And fun? If maths is fun, then getting a tooth extraction is fun. A viral infection is fun. Rabies shots are fun.'
'God exists because Mathematics is consistent, and the devil exists because we cannot prove it'
I'm not crazy, my mother had me tested.
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#4 2013-11-14 03:49:35
- bobbym
- bumpkin
- From: Bumpkinland
- Registered: 2009-04-12
- Posts: 109,606
Re: Why we need numbers ?
This is my fervent need to know. Why we use numbers ?
Well for one thing to count our money.
In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.
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#5 2013-11-14 04:10:39
Re: Why we need numbers ?
But if you could not count your money there would be no depression at all!!
'And fun? If maths is fun, then getting a tooth extraction is fun. A viral infection is fun. Rabies shots are fun.'
'God exists because Mathematics is consistent, and the devil exists because we cannot prove it'
I'm not crazy, my mother had me tested.
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#6 2013-11-14 04:26:33
- bobbym
- bumpkin
- From: Bumpkinland
- Registered: 2009-04-12
- Posts: 109,606
Re: Why we need numbers ?
Yes, there would be no need for bankers.
In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.
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#7 2013-11-14 04:30:54
Re: Why we need numbers ?
After all, we do not need numbers. Maths is evil. Follow line one from my signature
'And fun? If maths is fun, then getting a tooth extraction is fun. A viral infection is fun. Rabies shots are fun.'
'God exists because Mathematics is consistent, and the devil exists because we cannot prove it'
I'm not crazy, my mother had me tested.
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#8 2013-11-14 04:32:40
- bobbym
- bumpkin
- From: Bumpkinland
- Registered: 2009-04-12
- Posts: 109,606
Re: Why we need numbers ?
I have heard similar arguments to that from lots of people. They may be correct, why do you think so?
In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.
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#9 2013-11-14 04:48:36
Re: Why we need numbers ?
Why do I think what?
'And fun? If maths is fun, then getting a tooth extraction is fun. A viral infection is fun. Rabies shots are fun.'
'God exists because Mathematics is consistent, and the devil exists because we cannot prove it'
I'm not crazy, my mother had me tested.
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#10 2013-11-14 04:50:35
- bobbym
- bumpkin
- From: Bumpkinland
- Registered: 2009-04-12
- Posts: 109,606
Re: Why we need numbers ?
Hmmm, sounds like an anonimnystefy response.
Maths is evil
Why?
In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.
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#11 2013-11-14 05:04:15
Re: Why we need numbers ?
Yes, I've cloned a lot of bobbym and anonimnystefy responses.
I do not think so. If I did, you would not have found me here.
'And fun? If maths is fun, then getting a tooth extraction is fun. A viral infection is fun. Rabies shots are fun.'
'God exists because Mathematics is consistent, and the devil exists because we cannot prove it'
I'm not crazy, my mother had me tested.
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#12 2013-11-14 05:06:23
- bobbym
- bumpkin
- From: Bumpkinland
- Registered: 2009-04-12
- Posts: 109,606
Re: Why we need numbers ?
So, then we need numbers to count our money, to survey our land so in case someone invades us we can go to war with them. We need numbers to tell how old we are getting...
In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.
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#13 2013-11-14 05:21:18
Re: Why we need numbers ?
I'm trying to tell that Maths is not evil, Maths is fun.
Saying that we need numbers to count our money is stupid because we do not need money. The requirement of Numbers is the requirement of Fun.
'And fun? If maths is fun, then getting a tooth extraction is fun. A viral infection is fun. Rabies shots are fun.'
'God exists because Mathematics is consistent, and the devil exists because we cannot prove it'
I'm not crazy, my mother had me tested.
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#14 2013-11-14 05:28:16
- bobbym
- bumpkin
- From: Bumpkinland
- Registered: 2009-04-12
- Posts: 109,606
Re: Why we need numbers ?
But your signature says that Math is like a toothache?! I tend to agree with that but now you are saying something else.
The monetary system is flawed and might be the cause of the extinction of human civilization but even I can not imagine a world without it. The thing is we need numbers to count and measure what we have, to put a value on it.
In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.
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#15 2013-11-14 05:30:52
Re: Why we need numbers ?
When you measure something, you know something.
'And fun? If maths is fun, then getting a tooth extraction is fun. A viral infection is fun. Rabies shots are fun.'
'God exists because Mathematics is consistent, and the devil exists because we cannot prove it'
I'm not crazy, my mother had me tested.
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#16 2013-11-14 05:34:09
- bobbym
- bumpkin
- From: Bumpkinland
- Registered: 2009-04-12
- Posts: 109,606
Re: Why we need numbers ?
And when we can not measure it?
In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.
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#17 2013-11-14 07:25:37
- anonimnystefy
- Real Member
- From: Harlan's World
- Registered: 2011-05-23
- Posts: 16,049
Re: Why we need numbers ?
I'm trying to tell that Maths is not evil, Maths is fun.
Saying that we need numbers to count our money is stupid because we do not need money. The requirement of Numbers is the requirement of Fun.
That is true, but it is very hard to establish a stable system with no money. Such a system depends on either trading goods, which did happen and eventually turned into what it is today, or on a system of free goods which might be just an inch from a total disaster. There is a reason why such systems of goods value exists only in literature.
Here lies the reader who will never open this book. He is forever dead.
Taking a new step, uttering a new word, is what people fear most. ― Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Crime and Punishment
The knowledge of some things as a function of age is a delta function.
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#18 2013-11-14 13:01:02
Re: Why we need numbers ?
You do not need a stable system. Animals in the jungle do not have any stable system
'And fun? If maths is fun, then getting a tooth extraction is fun. A viral infection is fun. Rabies shots are fun.'
'God exists because Mathematics is consistent, and the devil exists because we cannot prove it'
I'm not crazy, my mother had me tested.
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#19 2013-11-14 13:23:08
- anonimnystefy
- Real Member
- From: Harlan's World
- Registered: 2011-05-23
- Posts: 16,049
Re: Why we need numbers ?
By a stable system I mean a system that will not change quickly.
Here lies the reader who will never open this book. He is forever dead.
Taking a new step, uttering a new word, is what people fear most. ― Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Crime and Punishment
The knowledge of some things as a function of age is a delta function.
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#20 2013-11-14 20:44:15
- bobbym
- bumpkin
- From: Bumpkinland
- Registered: 2009-04-12
- Posts: 109,606
Re: Why we need numbers ?
Animals in the jungle do not have any stable system
They also do not have any numbers.
In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.
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#21 2013-11-14 21:35:32
- anonimnystefy
- Real Member
- From: Harlan's World
- Registered: 2011-05-23
- Posts: 16,049
Re: Why we need numbers ?
And do not produce goods or provide services, so they have nothing to use money for.
Here lies the reader who will never open this book. He is forever dead.
Taking a new step, uttering a new word, is what people fear most. ― Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Crime and Punishment
The knowledge of some things as a function of age is a delta function.
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#22 2013-11-14 21:51:50
- Nehushtan
- Member
- Registered: 2013-03-09
- Posts: 957
Re: Why we need numbers ?
Wouldnt it great if humans also didnt have to use money? Then we wouldnt have to work and get stressed out. Lets get rid of money and live like happy and carefree animals! Like the way the 18th-century philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau said we all should live.
240 books currently added on Goodreads
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#23 2013-11-14 22:14:47
- anonimnystefy
- Real Member
- From: Harlan's World
- Registered: 2011-05-23
- Posts: 16,049
Re: Why we need numbers ?
Hm, then, how would we use the things we have today, such as computers, phones, cars, etc. I'm not sure many people would be happy with unusability of those.
Here lies the reader who will never open this book. He is forever dead.
Taking a new step, uttering a new word, is what people fear most. ― Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Crime and Punishment
The knowledge of some things as a function of age is a delta function.
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#24 2013-11-15 00:02:41
- Nehushtan
- Member
- Registered: 2013-03-09
- Posts: 957
Re: Why we need numbers ?
Thats because modern people have been heavily conditioned into worshipping these commodities (computers, cellphones, etc) as life-or-death necessities. All of us are born into a materialistic culture in which money plays a vital part and with rear the ugly heads of greed, selfishness, egocentric ambitiousness, etc. Suppose we go back to the time of our ancestors before this materialistic culture of ours was developed. Suppose, instead of going down this materialistic pathway, we choose the non-materialistic lifestyle of animals. Then we would live like animals and money and computers would never have been invented, simply because we would have no use for them in our simplistic, non-materialistic way of life. And because they hadnt been invented, we would not crave them. You cannot have a craving for things that dont exist!
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#25 2013-11-15 02:17:09
- bobbym
- bumpkin
- From: Bumpkinland
- Registered: 2009-04-12
- Posts: 109,606
Re: Why we need numbers ?
It is a little late now for humanity to correct itself. Perhaps it will be forced upon him.
In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.
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