Does math exist?

[SixNein]

Sure it does.  The first answer is sometimes called the real root.

Both of those numbers in my example were real; however, one was a negative number. We toss the negative number because it has crossed the physical limitations of distance.

Mathematics is more like a game where axioms can be made up about anything.

[Plu]

An interesting video on the topic of whether or not math is even a real thing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl ... bNymweHW4E

I'd like to hear your opinions. I'm still trying to figure out my own :P

No controversy just mental masturbation woo garbage.

YES math exists. PERIOD.

This is as stupid as saying speed doesn't exist.

Quite a limiting view on reality you have there, I fear.

Mathematics is more like a game where axioms can be made up about anything.

Yep. That's the beauty of it. Math is greater than reality in a way, it's just that some of it doesn't really do anything useful. But sometimes taking a short-cut through non-reality allows you to go back to reality and do something useful... (see: imaginary numbers)

[Solitary]

It seems my topic is devolving into some kind of dick-measuring context. It's a good thing math allows us to objectively compare such things, I guess?

I have a yard stick  (no pressure boys)

*hands on hips*  Now.............  *ahem* Who's dick am I measuring?   Line em up!


 :rollin:  :rollin:  :rollin:

Yard stick? Whut?
I'm so bad at math
 :rollin:

I had twelve inches, but now it is limp and I no longer use it as a "rule."  :shock:    Solitary

[Colanth]

Sure it does.  The first answer is sometimes called the real root.

Both of those numbers in my example were real; however, one was a negative number.

Oops, my bad.  After a quick glance I ASSumed you had a real and an imaginary root.

Negative speed is real and useful in some contexts.

[josephpalazzo]

Sure it does.  The first answer is sometimes called the real root.

Both of those numbers in my example were real; however, one was a negative number.

Oops, my bad.  After a quick glance I ASSumed you had a real and an imaginary root.

Negative [s:1w3sppbc]speed[/s:1w3sppbc] velocity is real and useful in some contexts.

 :P

[Colanth]

I tried to be kind.  I've found that many people think that "velocity" is just a fancy way of saying speed.  But you're right, of course - vectors go in all directions, but length has no direction.

[Jmpty]

The things that mathematics represents are real. Mathematics itself is merely a language that humans use to represent those things, so, in that sense, it's as real as any other language.

[josephpalazzo]

The things that mathematics represents are real. Mathematics itself is merely a language that humans use to represent those things, so, in that sense, it's as real as any other language.

It's a question of distinguishing "form" from "content". In its form math, like language, is a human construct. In its content, it may represent real things, but not necessarily so.

[Unbeliever]

Does pi have a quintillionth digit? Does anyone know what it is? If not, how can it "exist' when it's not in any mind?

[GurrenLagann]

Actually, the problem mathematical ontology with regards to irrational numbers is for nominalists, not Platonists. Nominalists tend to say that numbers are just an abstraction that sentient beings apply to groups of things. But clearly that cannot be the entire case, because what grouping are you abstracting from when you, say, take the square root of two?

I'd say that I'm a nominalist, but there are interesting challenges to it, and the number of adherents to it (37%) among philosophers is slightly  below Platonists (39%).

[Solitary]

So, is mathematics an invention, discovery, or both? In my opinion it is a tool. Solitary

[josephpalazzo]

Does pi have a quintillionth digit? Does anyone know what it is? If not, how can it "exist' when it's not in any mind?

Pi (= circumference/diameter) is derived from geometry, and geometry is determined by the laws of physics, hence pi is part of the real world.

[Jason78]

Does pi have a quintillionth digit? Does anyone know what it is? If not, how can it "exist' when it's not in any mind?

Yes.  Pi has been calculated to over 10 trillion digits.  

It's 2.

Edit: Source

[Solomon Zorn]

I am an uneducated hick, and I haven't read the entire thread, YET, but I think about this kind of thing a lot.: The language of math is a perfect language, but we have not completely mastered it yet. The universe and everything in it can be described by 1+1=2, or whatever is extrapolated from that perfect statement. We just haven't done all the math yet. There can't be a universe with different laws, because 1+1 can only equal 2. You can play semantics and describe the unit "1" as some kind of set I suppose, but you aren't really changing anything. It's perfect, just not complete.

So my answer to the original post is, "Yes, math exists, everywhere, regardless of perception, it's shapes sizes and behaviors are all extrapolated from the most basic statement: 1+1 always equals 2."

It's funny though that we are discussing this on a computer, which is a great evidence that math is a perfect language. After I read the rest of the thread I may have more to say.

[Plu]

"Math" is just an example of a set of languages that describe things. It's not perfect, nor is there only one. It's the best one we have though. (Which is the primary reason why the others aren't in use anymore, they're simply not as good as this one)