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Old March 19th 06, 10:38 PM posted to rec.audio.tubes,uk.rec.audio
Rich Wilson
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Posts: 50
Default Super discussion about negative numbers on the BBC


"Nick Gorham" wrote in message
...
Rich Wilson wrote:


That's one reason why it's 'real', it is not 'just a concept'
and not an invention of the mind.



I could make up a number and argue exactly the same, and it would still
be made up.


Going to regret this but...


Yes, you are. Mwahahahahahaha!


Thats the point, pi isn't a "made up number", its a direct result of the
geometry of the universe we live in, it would have the same value at any
place in space, and any race that had the concept of the loci of a moving
point on a plain, and so the concept of a line and a circle, would arrive
at the ratio that is pi.


True. But that still doesn't give pi any existence outside the minds of the
people who worked it out.


Alternatively you might invent something useful that way. For example, by
taking the idea of a square root and applying it to something that you
wouldn't normally apply it to, like -1.

Again, you are looking at it from the wrong side.


If there's only one side you can "look at it from" so that it agrees with
your belief system, there's something wrong with your belief system.