MedVision ad

Proof that 1+1=2 (1 Viewer)

Status
Not open for further replies.

Captain pi

Member
Joined
Dec 3, 2004
Messages
433
Location
Port Macquarie
Gender
Male
HSC
2005
Of course we can't prove that 1 + 1 = 2 without reverting to the definition of 2 as

2 (is equivalent to) = 1' = 1 + 1.

Just the same as we can't prove, (upside-down A) a:

1 × a = a

or

0 + a = a

However, to dispute them is foolish; they are true ipso facto. (I think some users much more knowledgeable on Gödel will strangely loop back on me after that remark.)

How do you think we conceptualize "2", anyway? "2" and "Two" are just cognitive metaphors for 1 + 1.
 

Slidey

But pieces of what?
Joined
Jun 12, 2004
Messages
6,600
Gender
Male
HSC
2005
Captain pi said:
However, to dispute them is foolish; they are true ipso facto. (I think some users much more knowledgeable on Gödel will strangely loop back on me after that remark.)
The trouble here is those two things you mentioned are axioms. There is a finite number of them and for all intents and purposes, there is no problem with them.

However, when it comes to defining the natural numbers, we must use a recursive axiom set - one with an infinite amount of axioms. That is a problem.

Archman, if you don't like logic, avoid threads on it and don't take discrete, et cetera at uni. Simple. Stop complaining.
 

Templar

P vs NP
Joined
Aug 11, 2004
Messages
1,979
Gender
Male
HSC
2004
Slide Rule said:
However, when it comes to defining the natural numbers, we must use a recursive axiom set - one with an infinite amount of axioms. That is a problem.
I thought that even with infinite amount of axioms you couldn't prove their consistency.
 

Slidey

But pieces of what?
Joined
Jun 12, 2004
Messages
6,600
Gender
Male
HSC
2005
Templar said:
I thought that even with infinite amount of axioms you couldn't prove their consistency.
Perhaps. I don't profess prowess on Goedelian logic.
 

Archman

Member
Joined
Jul 29, 2003
Messages
337
Gender
Undisclosed
HSC
N/A
Slide Rule said:
The trouble here is those two things you mentioned are axioms. There is a finite number of them and for all intents and purposes, there is no problem with them.

However, when it comes to defining the natural numbers, we must use a recursive axiom set - one with an infinite amount of axioms. That is a problem.

Archman, if you don't like logic, avoid threads on it and don't take discrete, et cetera at uni. Simple. Stop complaining.
no, logic is not my problem. the problem being the fact that the actual issue was addressed perfectly well in the first few posts. yet others like to sustain an ongoing trend of stating the obvious and the irrelevant. (like people should read all previous posts before asking the same question). bah don't mean to spoil any fun for anyone, but i don't think a "proof" osuch as: take 1=1 and add one to both sides is contributing in anyway to the discussion.
also why don't you give some web references to the axioms or something, im sure there are some out there, surely thats better than some of the explanations we've had so far.

oh yes, im the last person to be taking discrete above calculus on my priority list. (will probably end up doing them all anyway)
 

Slidey

But pieces of what?
Joined
Jun 12, 2004
Messages
6,600
Gender
Male
HSC
2005
Archman said:
no, logic is not my problem. the problem being the fact that the actual issue was addressed perfectly well in the first few posts. yet others like to sustain an ongoing trend of stating the obvious and the irrelevant. (like people should read all previous posts before asking the same question). bah don't mean to spoil any fun for anyone, but i don't think a "proof" osuch as: take 1=1 and add one to both sides is contributing in anyway to the discussion.
also why don't you give some web references to the axioms or something, im sure there are some out there, surely thats better than some of the explanations we've had so far.

oh yes, im the last person to be taking discrete above calculus on my priority list. (will probably end up doing them all anyway)
Understood and I apologise.

I agree there's nothing inherently entertaining or interesting in proving 1+1=2, however how it is proved is what interests me.

This one is probably the best: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G%F6del's_incompleteness_theorem
 

Arkad

Member
Joined
Jan 20, 2005
Messages
55
Location
Where else but Queensland.
Gender
Male
HSC
2004
Slide Rule said:
I agree there's nothing inherently entertaining or interesting in proving 1+1=2, however how it is proved is what interests me.
Aren't you stating the obvious though, seriously who doesn't know 1+1=2 before they came to this thread? I've learnt that truth before I could even speak properly. I know you didn't say: "I don't know 1+1=2", but when people prove something in math it's either to assert the result or to find the 'how' element. Agree? So thats why I think you are stating the obvious, because of course we want to know how, it's not like people are not sure about if 1+1=2.

I think Archman's problem is not liking the fact that everyone don't read whats already been said and keeps on restating the obvious and hence prolonging the thread. And people tend to make up their own argument without any formal mathematical basis.
 
Last edited:

m_isk

Member
Joined
Apr 22, 2004
Messages
158
Gender
Undisclosed
HSC
N/A
actually, 1=2. Bear with me
let x=1 and Y=1
then x=y
and x^2=xy (multiplying both sides by x)
and x^2-y^2=xy-y^2 (subtracting y squared from both sides)
therefore, upon factorising, (x-y)(x+y) = y(x-y)
and when we cross of the (x-y) from both sides, we get x+y=y, but since x=1 and y=1, we have proved that 1+1=1 i.e that 1=2!
:) so all the maths we do and will ever do and have ever done is garbage. go figure geniuses or is it geniusi??
 
Last edited:

KFunk

Psychic refugee
Joined
Sep 19, 2004
Messages
3,323
Location
Sydney
Gender
Male
HSC
2005
Haha, next time I'm stuck in a test I'll just prove that the rules we work with are fundamentally flawed.
 

Xayma

Lacking creativity
Joined
Sep 6, 2003
Messages
5,953
Gender
Undisclosed
HSC
N/A
m_isk said:
actually, 1=2. Bear with me
let x=1 and Y=1
then x=y
and x^2=xy (multiplying both sides by x)
and x^2-y^2=xy-y^2 (subtracting y squared from both sides)
therefore, upon factorising, (x-y)(x+y) = y(x-y)
and when we cross of the (x-y) from both sides, we get x+y=y, but since x=1 and y=1, we have proved that 1+1=1 i.e that 1=2!
:) so all the maths we do and will ever do and have ever done is garbage. go figure geniuses or is it geniusi??
True that happens when you start using undefined numbers. In this case something divided by 0.
 

Templar

P vs NP
Joined
Aug 11, 2004
Messages
1,979
Gender
Male
HSC
2004
There was absolute no point in that post. This thread is pretty much closed.
 

dark_angel

God Is One
Joined
Mar 21, 2003
Messages
670
Location
Seven Hills
Gender
Male
HSC
2004
Templar said:
There was absolute no point in that post. This thread is pretty much closed.
do u know how many maths terms u just used in that sentence?????


neither do i :)






absolute, point, thread, closed.

i'm really bored.
 
X

xeuyrawp

Guest
Euler said:
Bertrand Russell, though i don't remember which volume it is in.
Jesus, Russell is like one of the biggest muscles in Philosophy... AND math?
 

Slidey

But pieces of what?
Joined
Jun 12, 2004
Messages
6,600
Gender
Male
HSC
2005
PwarYuex said:
Jesus, Russell is like one of the biggest muscles in Philosophy... AND math?
Most philosophers were mathematicians...
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Users Who Are Viewing This Thread (Users: 0, Guests: 1)

Top