2007-10-08 08:46:34 · 6 answers · asked by alan p 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Mathematics
A contradiction... something that defies logic... something that is counter-intuitive
2007-10-08 08:51:39 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
An example explains it best. Suppose you want to go from point A to point B. To get there you must walk 1/2 the distance. Then you must walk 1/2 the remaining distance. Then you must walk 1/2 the remaining distance, etc,etc,etc and so you will never arrive at point B because you will always have 1/2 of some remaining distance to cover.
Of course you know this is pure bunk because you know you can walk to point B quite easily and go right on past it. But still, the logic of the above paradox attributed to Zeno seems to say you can't do it. It appears to defy logic.
2007-10-08 08:59:06 · answer #2 · answered by ironduke8159 7 · 1⤊ 3⤋
A pardox is a statement that contadicts itself, or a logical inconsistency. One example is the "barber paradox": suppose it's said that every man in a town either shaves himself or gets a shave by the local barber. Then who shaves the barber? If he shaves himself, then he's also being shaved by the barber.
Mathematics is carefully well-defined so that you don't run into paradoxes.
2007-10-08 08:53:09 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 2⤋
A problem or question that apparently has no answer or cannot be answered logically.
A simple example is this: "this sentence is false". If that sentence really is false, then it is a true statement, but if it is true then the sentence is false because it claims to be false.
2007-10-08 08:52:38 · answer #4 · answered by Mathsorcerer 7 · 4⤊ 1⤋
A PAIR OF DOCTORS...HA HA.
NO, U'VE ALL ANSWERED IT QUITE NICELY.
JUST THOUGHT I'D ADD SOME LEVITY.
2007-10-08 09:01:03 · answer #5 · answered by BillK's Special Lady 6/08 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
what came first? the chicken or the egg?
THE ROOSTER CAME FIRST!
2015-06-03 01:04:55 · answer #6 · answered by Charlie 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋