Nothing

Duane Reese · Post by **Duane Reese** » 6 Nov 2007 6:26 pm

I'll tell you what this thead itself defines: collective insanity.

Jim Robbins · Post by **Jim Robbins** » 6 Nov 2007 7:50 pm

Alan F. Brookes wrote:
Ray Minich wrote:Something divided by nothing is infinite...
Actually, that's not true. Something divided by nothing is impossible. It's an expression of mathematical semantics. If you look at a fraction like 8/4 what it's saying is the number of instances of 4 there are in 8, which, of course, is 2. The fraction 8/0 is saying the number of instances of 0 there are in 8, which is an impossible question, since no matter how many 0's you have you will never get to anything more that 0.

Mathematicians have used any number (except zero) divided by 0 as infinite, but it has no meaning. As the denominator of a fraction gets bigger the value of the fraction increases, so the logic is that if it gets down to zero the fraction will have value of infinity. But in reality it never reaches 0, so the fraction never reaches infinity.

I realize you know all this. It's just that I majored in Mathematical Logic, which is a subject in between Mathematics, Philosophy and Semantics. This science looks at the meaning behind mathematical expressions, not just the Algebra. You can't divide by zero because it has no meaning. If it were otherwise, you could prove any number is equal to any other number by the use of Algebra...

Check this out....

For this exercise, let x = 1.

It goes without saying, then, that in this particular example...

x2 - x = x2 - 1 (I hope this reads as x squared on your monitor)

Factorise both sides...

(x+1)(x-1) = x(x-1)

Divide both sides by (x-1)

x + 1 = x

Deduct x from both sides

1 = 0

If 1 = 0 then by multiplying and/or adding various numbers to each side of the equation you can prove that any number is any number.

The fallacy is in the line that divides both sides by (x-1). Looking at what the previous line reads, what it actually says is that (x+1) multiplied by zero is the same as x multiplied by zero, which is why all mathematicians (including you and most of the people reading this) know that before dividing both sides of an equation by anything you have to add the proviso "unless that divisor is zero."

That's why you can't divide any number by zero. Something divided by zero is NOT infinite, it's impossible.

Actually, nothing is impossible.

Joe W. Gilbert · Post by **Joe W. Gilbert** » 6 Nov 2007 10:15 pm

basilh · Post by **basilh** » 7 Nov 2007 2:18 am

Actually, nothing is impossible.

Except maybe trying to decipher one of Bill Hankey's posts ? (Nothing personified methinks)

Post by **b0b** » 7 Nov 2007 7:37 am

Wait a minute. I was taught that any number divided by itself equals 1. That would mean that 0/0=1, since there is exactly one 0 in 0.

Something to think about, or not.

Larry Strawn · Post by **Larry Strawn** » 7 Nov 2007 7:42 am

All of ya'll are talking way over my head, or else ya'll have way to much time on your hands during the day!

But then Nothing is impossible! $:\$

Michael Douchette · Post by **Michael Douchette** » 7 Nov 2007 8:17 am

"Nothing is impossible?"

Ok... lick the back of your neck.

Dan Haas · Post by **Dan Haas** » 7 Nov 2007 8:30 am

Recap:

0/x = 0
x/0 = UNDEFINED
0/0 = INDETERMINANT

Licking the back of your neck = STRANGE

Larry Strawn · Post by **Larry Strawn** » 7 Nov 2007 12:36 pm

Ok Mikey.

Ya got me there! I'm gonna have to retract my statement about the impossiblities of Nothing!

I tried, but nothing happened! [to lick my neck, yuuck]

Seems I have way to much time on my hands today!

$:\$

Larry

basilh · Post by **basilh** » 7 Nov 2007 4:38 pm

Ok... lick the back of your neck.

Nothin' to it !!

Archie Nicol · Post by **Archie Nicol** » 7 Nov 2007 5:15 pm

Arch.

Alan Brookes · Post by **Alan Brookes** » 7 Nov 2007 5:37 pm

basilh wrote:
Ok... lick the back of your neck.
Nothin' to it !!

Basil, if you can lick the back of your neck you're probably the greatest lover in England.

Jim Robbins · Post by **Jim Robbins** » 7 Nov 2007 9:12 pm

But if nothing isn't impossible, that means nothing is possible. And if nothing is possible, how can something be possible?

And of course you can lick the back of your neck. Just pick up your tele, turn it around and lick. (Don't ask me why you'd want to, though. & stay away from my guitars please.)

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 8 Nov 2007 8:19 pm

basilh · Post by **basilh** » 9 Nov 2007 12:43 am

That's EXACTLY it, there's nothing like it !!

basilh · Post by **basilh** » 9 Nov 2007 12:46 am

ELLA FITZGERALD
I Got Plenty O' Nuttin

I got plenty of nothing
And nothing's plenty for me
I got no car - got no mule
I got no misery

Folks with plenty of plenty
They've got a lock on the door
Afraid somebody's gonna rob 'em
While their out (a) making more - what for

I got no lock on the door - that's no way to be
They can steal the rug from the floor - that's ok with me
'cause the things that I prize - like the stars in the skies - are all free

I got plenty of nothing
And nothing's plenty for me
I got my gal - got my song
(I) got heaven the whole day long

- got my gal - got my love - got my song
Got my Steel Guitar

ELLA FITZGERALD

Mike Shefrin · Post by **Mike Shefrin** » 9 Nov 2007 9:42 am

Mike Shefrin · Post by **Mike Shefrin** » 9 Nov 2007 10:07 am

Wow!...Nine pages devoted to nothing....kinda reminds me of a politician's speech.

David Doggett · Post by **David Doggett** » 9 Nov 2007 2:16 pm

Well, it's been a wild ride. But I have to say the most engaging part was the post about "something." Next to that was the stuff from the Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy about the nihilists, existentialists and antifoundationalists. But even that ended with Nietzsche holding out hope for "something." Who could blame him?

Mike Shefrin · Post by **Mike Shefrin** » 9 Nov 2007 3:09 pm

Is it over? I have a feeling we ain't seen nothing yet.

Larry Strawn · Post by **Larry Strawn** » 9 Nov 2007 3:41 pm

This is the biggest "to do" over nothing I've ever seen!

Edited to add, I just hit the 10th page!

Farris Currie · Post by **Farris Currie** » 9 Nov 2007 3:50 pm

I have read and read this topic, and i still see

NOTHING!!!!!!!!!!!!!

farris

Richard Sevigny · Post by **Richard Sevigny** » 9 Nov 2007 5:08 pm

Farris Currie wrote:I have read and read this topic, and i still see

NOTHING!!!!!!!!!!!!!

farris

Had your eyes checked lately??

Archie Nicol · Post by **Archie Nicol** » 9 Nov 2007 5:11 pm

POSSUMS! DUCK PLUCKERS! NOTHING!

Geezabrek!

Arch.

Alan Brookes · Post by **Alan Brookes** » 9 Nov 2007 5:13 pm

I have nothing to add.
0

The Steel Guitar Forum

Nothing

Nothing

He checks his imaginary watch and rolls his eyes.