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Zero to hero (mander.xyz)
submitted 6 months ago by fossilesque@mander.xyz to c/science_memes@mander.xyz
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[-] moon@lemmy.cafe 3 points 6 months ago

How can nothing be a number

[-] NoFood4u@sopuli.xyz 7 points 6 months ago

Because a number isn't just a representation of a size or amount - that's called a scalar. A number can also represent a point in a space, the label of a vertex on a graph and probably some other things too.

[-] baseless_discourse@mander.xyz 2 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

BTW, 0 is typically considered a scalar. As in mathematics scalar is typically defined as a field, which would require an additive identity, namely 0.

[-] StuffYouFear@lemmy.world 3 points 6 months ago

Wouldnt it be best to think of it more as the representation of the absence of something?

[-] Leate_Wonceslace@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 6 months ago

Hi, mathematician here. What's a "number"?

this post was submitted on 07 May 2024
873 points (98.1% liked)

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