2007-06-07 08:43:31 · 11 answers · asked by rohan v 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Mathematics
While I agree with TheEconomist about the other parts of his statement, I would argue that multiplication and division are just simpifications of addition. (And subtraction is just addition of the opposite).
3*5 means 3+3+3+3+3 or 5+5+5. So, multiplication is really just addition.
2007-06-07 08:48:01 · answer #1 · answered by Mathematica 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The answer is no, although it's interesting to think about. Subtraction can be reduced to addition, and as Carl M pointed out for us, addition can be reduced to the successor function.
So now we have arithmetic in terms of one set (the reals) and one unary operation (succession). Not bad! Still, much of what we call mathematics cannot be reduced to arithmetic.
People have already given some good examples. Certainly they show up more often in higher math, but they show up in Algebra 1. Consider the following problem: What is the domain of the function f(x)=sqrt(x)? Either you know the answer, or you think about the function to get the answer, or perhaps you graph the function to get the answer. But there's no way to just add things and come up with an uncountably infinite set like {x ε R: x >0}.
2007-06-07 09:11:06 · answer #2 · answered by TFV 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
definitively not. every law of thermodynamics (physics of the world) is ruled by addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, integration, derivation, exponentials, logarithms, etc...
it gets harder.
addition and subtraction might be enough if you're calculating money and stuff like that. there are a few business models that i know of that use exponential and logarithmic functions... but these arent always necessary since the graphical interpretation can also be made in linear form (just adding). it all depends on what the x and y axis are defined as.
hope it answered it!
2007-06-07 08:58:04 · answer #3 · answered by t-dawg 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you limit yourself to basic arithmetic, then yes, it is all just a variation on addition. Subtraction is just addition of a negative value.
But "mathematics" is much more complex than that. It is also the study of relationships, space, etc. You can't forget the =, the <, >, etc.
2007-06-07 08:52:34 · answer #4 · answered by Justin L 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Pretty much so - and you don't even need subtraction, as long as you have a negation operator.
Multiplication is repeated addition and division is repeated subtraction. Computers that don't have floating point units (used to be most of them) just add quickly.
2007-06-07 08:53:11 · answer #5 · answered by dogsafire 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Addition and subtraction are unnecessary. The successor and predecessor functions generate addition and subtraction, must as addition and subtraction can generate multiplication and division.
2007-06-07 08:50:55 · answer #6 · answered by Carl M 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I agree with dogsafire. Computers work by adding and negating bits (1s and 0s).
2007-06-07 09:14:24 · answer #7 · answered by cvandy2 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no there's multiplication and division too. And derivitives, and matrices, and graphical transformation.
2007-06-07 08:46:12 · answer #8 · answered by TheEconomist 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think I'm not good at math though
2007-06-07 08:47:13 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
what ever anyone else said i'll pretend it's my answer xD
2007-06-07 08:46:52 · answer #10 · answered by James L 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋