1+1=2? I think not. Two apples? What if one apple is bigger? Wouldn't I end up with 1-1/2 apples? What if

Question

What if one apple has a worm in it; does that make it more valuable or less valuable? What do I get if I try to add one apple and one orange? Two fruits? Well why, then, not start out by saying, "we're going to add this fruit to this fruit"? Why does math ignore quality? It is therefore an incomplete, insufficient science?

This should help..."A sine curve goes off to infinity, or at least the end of the blackboard." ~ Professor Steiner

Answer 1

Of course math is incomplete and insufficient, by itself. What good is knowing that 1+1=2, unless you have things you need to count? However, math itself is not capable of making mistakes, nor is it capable of either acknowledging or ignoring quality. That is determined by the person using it, and how they choose to apply it.

Re: Additional Details - And this should help you. A sine curve goes off into infinity, but all we really have an honest, practical use for, is the values from -360 to 360. After that, what we're talking about is complete rotations, and remaining degrees.

What you're trying to get across, here, is something I refer to as "pothead philosophy". Abstract reasoning and selective perception, yielding a result that is only valid when observed under the same rationale it was conceived in, and having no logical basis or applications.

You're talking about math like it is inherently limited, when the truth is, it is only as limited as the person using it. The concepts you're criticizing here are intended only to introduce one to the fundamentals of math. Once you have a grasp of those fundamentals, it is up to you to apply them as you see fit.

Answer 2

Math does not need to consider quality, only quantity. Quality may affect quantity, but quantity is still consistent. If an apple has a worm in it, and the worm ate 2% of the apple, then you are actually adding 1 + .98 apples = 1.98. If you have 2 completely intact apples, then 1 + 1 = 2. When you use math in relation to specific objects, the accuracy of the math depends on your control. This is why surveys, studies, etc list details in addition to numbers.

I have an apple. It does not matter what it looks like, how big it is, it is an apple and that is fact. You have an orange, that also is fact. Apples are fruit. Oranges are fruit. apple = x, orange = y, fruit = z.
Both of these are therefore true:
x + y = 2z
z + z = 2z

Answer 3

Dude...I think you need to get some serious help. You read too much into things...an apple is an apple. 1+1=2. You can't change that. 1+1 will ALWAYS equal 2. Unless, of course, aliens take over the world therefore changing the number line and alphabet in which case 1+1 will proably equal....no...wait...it would probably still equal 2. Hope this is helpful! = P!

PS if you get an apple with a worm in it and eat it...that doesn't make it more valuable or less valuable. It just means you ate a worm and if I were you I'd go see a doctor...Immediately...

Answer 4

You are asking the wrong question, actually, if you someone ask you: 1 apple, pear, watermelon, whatever, plus ANY other fruit you end up having 2, no matter how you look at it YOU HAVE TWO, BUT!, if one is bigger or has a worm or any stuff like that, you wouldn't be asking that simple question, right?
So if someone says 1+1 (of anything) = 2.
If someone ask you: 1 person + 1 person, does it make a difference if it's black, white, blue, yellow, fat, slim, tall, short, etc.???..... i don't think so
So there's your answer, 1 of something, is 1 of something.
Hope this helps!

Answer 5

While you present a valid argument, you neglect to point out that at the same level, everything is essentially the same. Quantum physics describes our universe as a giant blanket, if you'll excuse the metaphor, in which everything is connected. Everything is made from the same sub-atomic particles, so the composition of my brain is analogous to the composition of an apple. This also means that the two apples are inherently the same, so even if one is much larger than the other, if you bring them together you still have two apples. Averaging out what they're made of means that you have two exactly similar apples that are exactly the same size. Thus, 1+1 = 2.

Answer 6

It will depend on your definition of "an apple". If you define an apple as a certain size, shape, etc, then math can handle that. If you define an apple as a fruit of a certain type, then math can handle that. Math doesn't ignore quality. It is all up to the person setting up the problem; this makes math very powerful.

Answer 7

No, your understanding is incomplete. We are adding two numbers and in real life we see whether the two objects are comparable before we can think of adding or subtracting.

Addition of numbers is an abstract process. We can say we have 2 horses without going into detail the age, the color, the height and other statistics.

Answer 8

You're putting to faith in the operation of addition and in the mathematical definition of 'equals'. Arithmetic addition as you pointed out here works only with magnitudes- it doesn't care if you're using it to count how many apples you've got or whether its helping with your taxes. It is nothing more than an operation, and can only function with numerical values, and is unconcerned with whatever 'quality' is assigned to these values.

Maths 'ignores' quality only because 'quality' is purely subjective, and as such can't be quantified meaningly thus it has no place in maths.

Answer 9

Just because an apple is smaller than the other doesn't mean it's not still ONE whole apple. You've still got TWO whole apples. Just because the players on one time aren't as good as the players on the other team, doesn't make the worse players "partial humans". I think you're forgetting what math is all about. (it's not philosophy)

Answer 10

If you cut both fruits in half, then keep 1/2 of each. You have EXACTLY 1/2 of the crop. Split the worm, if you feel you must. It's not algebra, it's common sense.