fossilesque@mander.xyzM to Science Memes@mander.xyzEnglish · 2 months agoZero to heromander.xyzimagemessage-square121fedilinkarrow-up1857arrow-down114
arrow-up1843arrow-down1imageZero to heromander.xyzfossilesque@mander.xyzM to Science Memes@mander.xyzEnglish · 2 months agomessage-square121fedilink
minus-squareNoFood4u@sopuli.xyzlinkfedilinkEnglisharrow-up7·2 months agoBecause 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.
minus-squarebaseless_discourse@mander.xyzlinkfedilinkEnglisharrow-up2·edit-22 months agoBTW, 0 is typically considered a scalar. As in mathematics scalar is typically defined as a field, which would require an additive identity, namely 0.
minus-squareStuffYouFear@lemmy.worldlinkfedilinkEnglisharrow-up3·2 months agoWouldnt it be best to think of it more as the representation of the absence of something?
minus-squareLeate_Wonceslace@lemmy.dbzer0.comlinkfedilinkEnglisharrow-up2arrow-down1·2 months agoHi, mathematician here. What’s a “number”?
How can nothing be a number
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.
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.
Wouldnt it be best to think of it more as the representation of the absence of something?
Hi, mathematician here. What’s a “number”?