Is there any mathematical instances where 2+2 will equal something else besides 4? If so, what is it and what is the answer?
2007-03-07 05:12:47 · 9 answers · asked by Will M 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Mathematics
Yes. If you are working in base 3, the answer will be 11.
11 in base 3 is 1*3^1+1*3^0=3+1=4
in base 4, 2+2=10 since 10 in base 4 =1*4^1=4
in any base greater than 4, the answer is 4.
2007-03-07 06:03:22 · answer #1 · answered by yupchagee 7 · 15⤊ 0⤋
Yes and no. If we're working on a problem or a proof, using standard procedures (the base-10 number system, operations like addition defined as usual, etc.) and come up with 2+2 = something other than 4, then it means we either did something wrong along the way (a careless calculation error, or a no-no like dividing by 0), or we made a false assumption along the way. When we arrive at a contradiction like this in math, then we know we did something wrong along the way.
However, you CAN have this equal something other than 4, depending on how you define "2" and the operator "+". As others have pointed out, "2+2" can mean something else in other base systems. If we use the tertiary system (which only uses the digits 0, 1, and 2), then 2+2=11 (I wouldn't use the binary system as an example, as that only uses 1 and 0 for digits, so it wouldn't use "2" in the first place). In more extreme examples, there are higher studies of mathematics such as vector spaces where you basically rewrite the rules of math by redefining your elements and operations, and see if things can still stay consistant. Sometimes they can, depending on how carefully you redefine things.
2007-03-07 05:54:15 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you are speaking from a strictly symbolic view then using base 3 or 4 will differ.
Base 3:
2 + 2 = 11
Base 4:
2 + 2 = 10
But if you are speaking in the actual meaning behind the numbers and not the symbols, if these number represent vectors and not just values, then if the vectors are in different directions, their sum will not be 4.
2007-03-07 05:25:59 · answer #3 · answered by Tim 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. 2+2 will always equal 4.
2007-03-07 05:16:59 · answer #4 · answered by wilburrr 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
2+2=4 every time. However, this is (as far as I am aware) actually impossible to prove since it is only by convention that we call these numbers 2 & 4. This, believe it or not, makes absolute proof of just about anything impossible. It will almost always come down to proving 2+2=4 or 1+1=2.
2007-03-07 05:21:46 · answer #5 · answered by general_ego 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
as long as you are in base 10 then 2 + 2 = 4 but if you go to a number base that is different, then the answer could be different.
2007-03-07 05:19:47 · answer #6 · answered by Ray 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In modular arithmetic:
2 + 2 ≡ 1 (mod 3)
2007-03-07 05:19:37 · answer #7 · answered by williamh772 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
2+2 = 5
change the meaning of the word puls to {puls 1
2007-03-07 05:24:55 · answer #8 · answered by Stephen H 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
nope.... 4 is your number.
2007-03-07 05:19:51 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋