Would an extra-terrestrial civilization develop the same mathematics as ours?

Question

If not, how could theirs possibly be different?

Answer 1

There is NO EVIDENCE that the laws of physics or mathematics vary in the universe, and we are able to see light from galaxies as it was sent forth 13 billion years ago.

So ET's may have math that could "appear" to be different. For example, a circle might be defined as a polygon with an infinite numbers of sides and the formula for finding the area or circumference could be the CALCULITIC formula. But ultimately the math is the same.

They might have the short, elegant proof of Fermatt's last theorum which we don't have (instead having a clumsy, 20th century proof-by-contradiction method).

They might have n-dimentional proofs that allow for solutions or at least probability for very large math problems -- thus they might be able to "solve" the global warming issue and determine the danger from burning a couple of cubic kilometers of fossil fuel each year, while we are merely POSTURING on this issue without a proof one way or the other.

They might have greater knowledge of travel in 4 or 5 dimensions if the extra-terrestrials are also space travellers -- BTW-- the odds of INTELLIEGENT extra-terrestrial life are nearly zero.

They might have a much cleverer way of raising their children to reward intuition and inventiveness, such that their mathematics are self-advancing in a way that ours are not. If so, we might not want to embarass ourselves playing chess or contract bridge with them.

Answer 2

it could be infinitely different. We have ten fingers and ten toes and therefore make many of our units in tens, hundreds and thousands. But if say the appendages of an alien were in twelves, well you can see where I am going. The basic concepts would hold true, addition subtraction and the like, but perhaps thier equations as to say, the speed of light or Pi, the quadratic equation etc, these could all be varied or non existent. Maybe they have a simpler way to find the area of a circle using a higher level of cognitive abilities, or perhaps another civilization uses only sign language without written terms, you could probably see that there could be computation problems.
As an army diver, I had to learn in terms of 60's instead of tens for underwater calculations based on minutes, seconds and then switch to single 10 based numbers for hours and then 7 based numbers for days 4 and 52 weeks, 12 months and so on, the calander and time concepts here on earth are like the english versus the metric systems. I would imagine that an alien civilization would be baffled trying to eqaute time. So as a diver, a see 352 minutes easily as 5 hours 52 minutes but some people have a little more trouble thinking of the time. Great question though.

Answer 3

Yes and no. While the fundamentals would likely be the same, in practice it could seem very different. For example, we typically use a base 10 counting system. Who knows what their standard base would be? Also, their systems for calculations could be very different, but translatable. For example, most of our 2D coordinate plotting is done on an x,y grid. But there are other plotting styles, like polar (R,theta). Those would seem like entirely different systems at first glance, but their differences don't suggest the underlying math is different.

An exception to this would be if their reality was just entirely different than anything we can imagine right now.

Answer 4

The basic mathematical constructs would be the same, however, the 'base' numbering system would probably not be base 10.
It could be base12 or Binary, but the circle would still require 'PI' 3.1415 regardless of which base you used.

You plan to exchange phone numbers with some ET chick?
Do a little multiplication........are ya?


Yours: Grumpy

Answer 5

not necessarily. this is because math can be done on any sort of base and they may not use a base 10 like we do. our system is universal on the earth because everyone uses the base 10 system to count and do math, but even in earlier times it wasnt so universal. there were many different types of math in the world, the Romans had a base 5 system, Babylonian's had a base 8 system (i believe) and there were also base 7's, base 9's, and even base 40's. it all depends on how high the system wants to count before going into "double digits"

Answer 6

I believe it would be similar. We have developed base 10 Math because we have 10 fingers. (Base 10 uses the digits 0 to 9)

They may use any other base, but we will be able to understand what they mean

Answer 7

Yes, math is universal. 2+2 always equals 4.

On those probes that we send out into the dark reaches of space, we include mathematical equations.

Answer 8

mathematics is universal, and would probably be the best choice of trying to initially communicate or identify with an alien civilization.

like tonalc1 said, 2 + 2 = 4 anywhere, they just might say

blark doo blark sci goo

Answer 9

Not if they derived pi as a whole number. If the mathematics of another civilization is based on pi (ie - absolute number for dimensions on circles) then the mathematics of limits would be different. As well as derivatives.

Proof that 0.999... = 1
for x= 0.999...
9x=10x-x = 9.999... - 0.999... = 9
9x=9; thus x=1
so 0.999... = 1

Answer 10

Math is kinda one of those absolutes. 1+1 will always equal 2 anywhere. They might call it different names or use a different base system (base 10= 0 thru 9, base 2 is binary, etc...)