For example, if you split a length of wire in half, and then split the remainder in half, and so on, will you eventually arrive at a single point? ...and if so, how many splits will it require?
2006-10-21 16:40:23 · 12 answers · asked by Uncle Meat 4 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Mathematics
You can certainly define a single point with no problem.
The problem comes in finding it or being able to say that you are actually there. This is because there are limits to any measuring system and you can only say that there is a certain probability that you are within a certain distance of the point.
2006-10-21 17:32:26 · answer #1 · answered by Stewart H 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The problem is that a point is undefined. How can you talk about the existence of something which is undefined? Real Analysis is built on the concept of a point which explains why it is full of holes.
A1mathguy: You wrote: "A line is defined as the locus (location) of all the points extending in opposite directions from a given point. Since a line occupies an infinite number of positions, it has a dimension of length."
Assuming this is true, i.e. that a line is the set of all locations extending in opposite directions from a given location, how is it possible that there exist an infinite number of locations? If this is true, then 0.999... is always less than 1 because we use the number line to represent real numbers.
2006-10-21 18:49:40 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Only if you give this point a specific size.. For example, a point that is 1 inch by 1inch by 1 inch exists--works great if the universe was digital. However, like was said, you have to have 3 dimensions to exist in the physical world. And every point is mathematicalliy infinitely divisible. Therefore it can only exist if you round your point to an arbitrary size. For example, if you picked a point on a line, how far to the right can you move without it becomming 1xE7billion
2006-10-21 17:52:27 · answer #3 · answered by diesel_pusher2 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The true MATHEMATICAL answer to your question is yes. A point is defined as a position somewhere in space. A position has no dimensions. Definitely, positions exist.
A line is defined as the locus (location) of all the points extending in opposite directions from a given point. Since a line occupies an infinite number of positions, it has a dimension of length.
2006-10-21 17:12:13 · answer #4 · answered by a1mathguy 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is completely dependent on what view you take.
For example: a bug could be a point following a curved path.
ex 2: an proton could be considered a point in that it makes up everything
ex 3: people could be considered points on the earth
ex 4: A car could be considered a point on the road
ex. 5: a star is a point in the sky
It is all relative...
2006-10-21 18:08:14 · answer #5 · answered by csulbalgebra 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There's no single point. Everything can be divided infinitely. There is no one dimension or two dimensions. There is only three dimensions. Circles don't actually exist. Something has to have three dimensions in order to exist. It's just a convenient way of analyzing our reality.
2006-10-21 17:03:17 · answer #6 · answered by dyauspiter 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's an atomical question, no amount of cutting wire will get you a true single point. To do that, you'd have to isolate the nucleus of an atom. That's not physically possible.
2006-10-21 16:59:19 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your asking what is the indivisible "atom"? The indivisible elementary particle is the photon.
The photon is the true atom, indivisible one , of which every thing else is made.
The only question is a photon a point particle or a string particle?
I happen to think its a string driven thing this photon thing is a very fine thing, a string driven thing this thing.
2006-10-21 16:44:13 · answer #8 · answered by willberb 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
No. Not in the physical world. It's a mathematical concept.
2006-10-21 16:49:26 · answer #9 · answered by yahoohoo 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes.In a co-ordinate space of x-y-z plane , a single point is when x=o,y=o,z=o,that is the origin of space.
2006-10-21 17:01:58 · answer #10 · answered by raj shekhar 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋