Are we too free with (-1) x (-1) = +1

[colubridae]

While we are 'philosophising' about maths.

[Bella Fortuna]

Someone is too free with the drink, perhaps...

[Xamonas Chegwé]

As long as we normal folks can remember that -1 and +1 don't really exist in the real world - well, not really, anyway - then mathmagicians are free to play around with such concepts to their heart's content - and if they happen to use them to make my microwave make nicer soufflés, that's all good.

Once we start believing in such evil concepts as -1 and +1 actually, really, existing in real terms in the real world, really, then we are really doomed!

[oddmanout]

It makes sense, at least compared to imaginary numbers, since, for example, when i say "no to no to a cup of tea" is the same as saying "yes to yes to a cup of tea" (i.e. (-1)x(-1)= 1 =(+1)x(+1)). And further, since (-1)x(+1)= -1 =(+1)x(-1), then we get that saying "no to yes to a cup of tea" is the same as saying "yes to no to a cup of tea". In the case of double negative or positive, you're positive to having a cup of tea, and in the mixed case you're negative to having a cup of tea.

[Robert_S]

It makes sense, at least compared to imaginary numbers, since, for example, when i say "no to no to a cup of tea" is the same as saying "yes to yes to a cup of tea" (i.e. (-1)x(-1)= 1 =(+1)x(+1)). And further, since (-1)x(+1)= -1 =(+1)x(-1), then we get that saying "no to yes to a cup of tea" is the same as saying "yes to no to a cup of tea". In the case of double negative or positive, you're positive to having a cup of tea, and in the mixed case you're negative to having a cup of tea.

We don't need no stinking tea!

[AnInconvenientScotsman]

It makes sense, at least compared to imaginary numbers, since, for example, when i say "no to no to a cup of tea" is the same as saying "yes to yes to a cup of tea" (i.e. (-1)x(-1)= 1 =(+1)x(+1)). And further, since (-1)x(+1)= -1 =(+1)x(-1), then we get that saying "no to yes to a cup of tea" is the same as saying "yes to no to a cup of tea". In the case of double negative or positive, you're positive to having a cup of tea, and in the mixed case you're negative to having a cup of tea.

Coffee anyone?


Anyway, I would have thought such negatives would be necessary when it comes to the charges on particles, or for example calculating the enthalpies of certain substances.

[Magicziggy]

While we are 'philosophising' about maths.

Perhaps we should start with "=" and be clear about what it means.
Then we can move on to "x".
We might then deal with "-" .
Your question is valid and I'm sure a mathematician will answer it for you if you say what it is you don't understand.

[colubridae]

While we are 'philosophising' about maths.

Perhaps we should start with "=" and be clear about what it means.
Then we can move on to "x".
We might then deal with "-" .
Your question is valid and I'm sure a mathematician will answer it for you if you say what it is you don't understand.

Errr. I may have outsmarted myself.

This title of the thread was menat to be a sarcastic parody of someone else's thread about infinity.
I'm perfectly comfortable using
(-1) x (-1) = +1
and mapping it onto the real world
as I am with infinity and
(-i1) x (-i1) = -1


sorry for any confusion

[Magicziggy]

While we are 'philosophising' about maths.

Perhaps we should start with "=" and be clear about what it means.
Then we can move on to "x".
We might then deal with "-" .
Your question is valid and I'm sure a mathematician will answer it for you if you say what it is you don't understand.

Errr. I may have outsmarted myself.

This title of the thread was menat to be a sarcastic parody of someone else's thread about infinity.
I'm perfectly comfortable using
(-1) x (-1) = +1
and mapping it onto the real world
as I am with infinity and
(-i1) x (-i1) = -1


sorry for any confusion

No worries Col. I didn't mean to seem so serious myself.

[colubridae]

While we are 'philosophising' about maths.

Perhaps we should start with "=" and be clear about what it means.
Then we can move on to "x".
We might then deal with "-" .
Your question is valid and I'm sure a mathematician will answer it for you if you say what it is you don't understand.

Errr. I may have outsmarted myself.

This title of the thread was menat to be a sarcastic parody of someone else's thread about infinity.
I'm perfectly comfortable using
(-1) x (-1) = +1
and mapping it onto the real world
as I am with infinity and
(-i1) x (-i1) = -1


sorry for any confusion

No worries Col. I didn't mean to seem so serious myself.

Blessed are the mentats

[oddmanout]

sorry for any confusion