Is 1+1 really 2?

Question

Math philosophers have been arguing over this for a long time. we are familiar with 1+1 being 2 but if you think about it why is 1+1 still 2 even though something divided by one or multiplyed by one is the same. If you divide 2 by 1 then its still 2 and not something else so how can 1 plus 1 be 2?

Ok, now thats what I think. This question really has no answer because 1 is the first number and its just...different. You can't come up with an answer because you think that one plus one can't be something else, but is it really what we think it is?

Just let me know.

Ok, I'm sorry if some of you don't understand why I have combined Philosophy and Maths but I mean Philosophy is known to give answers to even the wackiest questions and Maths is known to be the same aswell so how can they not be related? Ok, Some of you think that Philosophy is a curse when actually its a gift that allows us to see beyond the mirror that keeps reflevting only ourselves. And if you don't see it, then go and get yourself a new pair of glasses.

Sorry I even bothered........

Answer 1

Eternal,

1+1 need not necessarily be 2, always. For eg. on Y!A, though you might get 100 responses to your questions, that doesn't necessarily imply that you evolve 100 times smarter than what you originally were.
So if you make sure that you pose your question to the most intelligent among this lot, you evolve several times wiser, and the same question is posed to the most stupid amongst us, and you may end up being driven crazy.
So what 1+1 evolves to, entirely depends on who those one's are ;-)

Answer 2

But what is 2?

Answer 3

These math philosophers have too much time on their hands. They should try some real philosophy.

"1+1=2" is true because of the definitions of "addition" and "equality," and because of Arabic number cardinality. Geez. Similar to the definition of AND in logic; we wouldn't sit around doubting whether "x and y" means "if 'x and y' is true, then x is true and y is also true" on the grounds that when x appears in "x or y" the same criterion for truth does not apply.

You can test 1+1 by placing a stick on the ground, and then by placing another one beside it, and then by counting how many are now there. Works every time.

A more fruitful question is "how is the many also one?"

Answer 4

It may seem long, but I try to explain it as quick and thorough as I can.

Well, I think that 1+1 is equal to two, because you are adding 2 single items together.

If you subtract 1part from 2 parts, you get 1 (2 - 1 = 1).

But when you divide something by 1, you aren't really dividing it amongst more than one thing, so it would remain the same. Like if you divide 6 by 2, then you are dividing it by more than one thing and each of the 2 (1 and 1) would get 3 each.

Or if you multiply something by 1 it would be the same thing because you are just multiplying it once, (for example, when you multiply 1 by 5, it would be like adding it only once so you stay with 5 because you start with nothing and multiply 5 once, but if you multiply 2 by 5, it would be like adding 5+5 ,adding it multiple times), it is just the number of times you add it to itself.

Adding and subtracting deal with the number of you are going to add or subtract to something.

But multiplying deals with the number of times you add a number to itself and dividing deals with how much you can give equally to each part (6 divided by 2, you are going to give each part of 2, 3 pieces, 3 for 1 and 3 for the other 1) So if you divide it by 1 you are giving everything to that 1 part.

Answer 5

Good question.
Before knowing whats 1+1 will become please tell me whats 1?
whats 1?
People who think philosophy is useless are right yes it is useless for people for masses.
philosophy cannot be understood by ordinary people.
People want to live in false hood they want magic they don't want the truth.
Even the greatest scientist Einstien accepted GOD is the truth.
We have to give u all this maths physics and chemistry to understand the truth.
why should we care about these science fanatics who don't know how to love.
Philosophy teaches what we are and modern science teaches what we are not.
Blessed are those who knows the balance of science and philosophy.

Answer 6

1+1 = 2
lulu's mom gave her an apple. lulu's dad gave her another apple. Now lulu has 2 apples.

2/1=2
There is only 1 kid in Aut Bettie's car. Aut Bettie's had 2 apples. So she gave the kid all the apples.

1x2=2 , 2x2=4
There are 2 slices of cake in a plate. lulu ate a plate, so she ate 2 slices of cake. lulu's brother ate 2 plates, which were a total of 4 slices of cake he ate.

500ml water + 500ml water can be less than 1000ml water.

Numbers were invented to represent values. Numbers itself have no meaning. If you use numbers in different situation, the values can turn out differently... complicated equations , ..etc make numbers difficult to understand.

Answer 7

1 + 1 = 2
1 / 1 = 1
1 - 1 = 0

Quant@ VS. Equal

0 = 1 = 2

It's very common to get confused with the meaning of VALUE, but eventually you will get it; quantity and quality both seemingly separated by different operations...it's very easy to see the quantity, but not so easy to see the quality, you're very close to it though, the quality is in the Sum.


Good luck!

Answer 8

It is okay for you to combined math and philosophy because according to Plato and Bernard Russels, mathematics is therefore the indispensable prelude to philosophy and its highest form, over the doors of his Academy Plato placed, Dantesquely these words " Let no man ignorant of geometry enter here"

Answer 9

If you don't accept universals (such as numbers), then the real question becomes "Is it helpful for us to adopt a math system in which 1 + 1 = 2 ?"

Answer 10

Here is my philosophical thought on your mathematical musings.

In reality, one plus one can not be two.... there IS no two in reality... everything is unique.... not even two leaves of the same branch of the same tree can ever be absolutely identical...... two assumes that there can be absolute identical which is untrue in this universe. In order to create Maths, 2 has been defined mythically assuming there can be absolute identical....... but of course, Maths being Mythical is of great help just as God is!!