Originally posted by orfeo What's wrong with defining backwards as negative? Ever looked at a measuring line with zero in the middle? All the positive numbers are on one side, and the negative numbers are on the other. Direction is important.
Honestly, this whole 'paradox' depends on your methods of definition.
true... but then can you go at a speed of -20 mph? -80km/h?
..but going 20 mph south facing north isn't -20 mph... you're still going 20 mph, you're just facing the other way. Try walking backwards. You're going at a positive speed, just facing the opposite way
..but going 20 mph south facing north isn't -20 mph... you're still going 20 mph, you're just facing the other way. Try walking backwards. You're going at a positive speed, just facing the opposite way
This is the difference between SPEED and VELOCITY. Properly defined, speed has no direction and can only be positive. Velocity, properly defined, is speed IN A DIRECTION.
So yes, there is no such thing as negative speed. But there is such a thing as negative velocity.
...what has this got to do with your original question, anyway?
umm... no? that brings back the original question: how can you go into something (such as -3) -1 times? you either go into it (1 or more times) or you don't (0 times)
this is a random thought, but also, imagine getting into a car. You can't go into the car -1 times, can you?
Originally posted by Duck Duck Goose umm... no? that brings back the original question: how can you go into something (such as -3) -1 times? you either go into it (1 or more times) or you don't (0 times)
this is a random thought, but also, imagine getting into a car. You can't go into the car -1 times, can you?
-3 goes into -3 once.
If 3 went into -3 once, you'd have to say that 3 and -3 are the same value. And in that case, if you had 3 apples and I took away 6, you'd still have 3 apples!
And yes, you can get into a car -1 times. By getting out...
Originally posted by Bowmann -3 goes into -3 once.
If 3 went into -3 once, you'd have to say that 3 and -3 are the same value. And in that case, if you had 3 apples and I took away 6, you'd still have 3 apples!
And yes, you can get into a car -1 times. By getting out...
IF... 3 goes into -3 once. HOWEVER... 3 doesn't go into -3 once. It goes into it negative times. -3 degrees C is colder than 3 degrees, if that relates at all
Originally posted by Duck Duck Goose umm... no? that brings back the original question: how can you go into something (such as -3) -1 times? you either go into it (1 or more times) or you don't (0 times)
this is a random thought, but also, imagine getting into a car. You can't go into the car -1 times, can you?
You represented it just then as MULTIPLICATION question : n times 3 = -3. It's pretty darn obvious n=-1.
As I said before, the only reason there is a 'paradox' is because you are framing the question by physical examples. Mathematically there's no difficulty at all.
Originally posted by Duck Duck Goose IF... 3 goes into -3 once. HOWEVER... 3 doesn't go into -3 once. It goes into it negative times. -3 degrees C is colder than 3 degrees, if that relates at all
numbers paradox
09 May '05 18:45
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