Actually after talking with the guy who made that quote I've found he has no idea what he's talking about. — Darkneos
Thank you. — Metaphysician Undercover
Such as reflecting the positive number line over the origin and reversing the sign of the reflected numbers. In other words, positive and negative numbers are opposite numbers. — Andrew M
If numbers have an opposite, what is the opposite of zero? — Metaphysician Undercover
zero is its own opposite — Andrew M
Sorry Andrew, but "opposites" don't work that way. A thing is the same as itself, it cannot be opposite to itself. "Opposite" requires two. — Metaphysician Undercover
Even though the subject we are discussing is mathematics. — Andrew M
I really don't think you've provided any "mathematical definition of opposite". — Metaphysician Undercover
In mathematics, the additive inverse of a number a is the number that, when added to a, yields zero. This number is also known as the opposite (number),[1] sign change,[2] and negation.[3] For a real number, it reverses its sign: the additive inverse (opposite number) of a positive number is negative, and the additive inverse of a negative number is positive. Zero is the additive inverse of itself. — Additive inverse - Wikipedia
Here's a brief demonstration to help you understand what I am saying. Assume the smallest possible positive number is directly opposed, or inverse, to the largest possible negative number. In other words, we get as close to zero as possible on both sides, and maintain a balance of opposition between the two sides.
Now, let's assume that the quantity represented on each side is so near to nothing (zero) that we might be inclined to round it off. If we do such a thing, then the two quantities on each side become equal to each other, and the same as each other, as zero, instead of opposed to or inverse of one another.
Clearly, two inversely opposed and balancing quantities is not the same thing as one quantity, because that would mean that the positive number closest to zero is exactly the same as the negative number closest to zero, rather than having the two opposed to each other. — Metaphysician Undercover
Actually he says he doesn't believe other people don't exist. — Darkneos
I have, twice. But here it is again with the relevant parts bolded:
In mathematics, the additive inverse of a number a is the number that, when added to a, yields zero. This number is also known as the opposite (number),[1] sign change,[2] and negation.[3] For a real number, it reverses its sign: the additive inverse (opposite number) of a positive number is negative, and the additive inverse of a negative number is positive. Zero is the additive inverse of itself.
— Additive inverse - Wikipedia — Andrew M
You should try that. What happens if you have a -0 unequal to 0? — Srap Tasmaner
Opposites are commonly — Metaphysician Undercover
Late to the party here. I haven't read beyond the first page of posts. But I don't see where the key word has been defined in terms of quantum physics. Hence, the thread has migrated off-topic to loosely relevant notions of "opposition". Anyway FWIW, I'll add my two cents worth on the fraught topic of Reality, which underlies many of the heated disputes on the forum. We seem to split between a narrow physical definition, and a broader metaphysical meaning of "Real".When I get into the philosophy about it I get stuff like "well that depends what you mean by reality", after that I pretty much tune it out. — Darkneos
In math we also have inverses, additive and multiplicative. They're opposite-ish, the way equivalence is equal-ish. — Srap Tasmaner
No just that other people exist, I talked with him. — Darkneos
In mathematics, the additive inverse of a number a is the number that, when added to a, yields zero. This number is also known as the opposite (number) — Additive inverse - Wikipedia
I dunno, I don't really feel that way. I find pre-theoretical intuitions interesting and important. No math without 'em. — Srap Tasmaner
What's the opposite of 0? — Srap Tasmaner
zero is its own opposite
— Andrew M
Sorry Andrew, but "opposites" don't work that way. A thing is the same as itself, it cannot be opposite to itself. "Opposite" requires two. — Metaphysician Undercover
Major Edit : "Opposite" is perfectly fine when discussing positives and negatives. One of the meanings of opposite is "across from". Consider the number line with zero as the value between the positives and negatives. +5 is across from -5. Opposite works. — Real Gone Cat
In other words, zero is across from (opposite to) itself. — Real Gone Cat
You've demonstrated that by using this definition of inverse, zero is opposite to itself. — Metaphysician Undercover
But a thing being opposite to itself is contrary to common usage of "opposite". — Metaphysician Undercover
Additive inverse is different from multiplicative inverse, because neither represents a true inversion, — Metaphysician Undercover
What's of interest is what happens to points lying on the line (or point or plane) of reflection. Under the reflection, such points do not move! Thus a point on the surface of a mirror will reflect onto itself! — Real Gone Cat
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