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Thank you for that. As stated previously in my original post, I'm not a Mathematician and am learning, every little bit counts and I appreciate your and everybody's input . (Learned today that you when you multiply a negative number by a negative number the result is a positive number - they...

How does 10% of almost nothing sound?

My God! I've just had a peek at Book Of Proof and it's marvellous. Can I write you into my will?

Thank you so much!It all makes sense now...

Thank you. You have been very helpful.

Yes. I have seen this one. It's good.

Thank you.

Wow! Thank you! I did read the Chilmath page and it is now making sense, kind of... I note that the writer says 'The general formula can be written fully expanded form ... or in partially expanded from as n!=nx(n-1)!.' The use of the word 'or' is misleading. It would seem to imply that you can...

Yes, I do get that - I have no problem with 0!=1 for the very reasons you have set out and thank you for that. At the risk of repeating myself, this is not what I am interested in - I am interested in why some Mathematicians use the formula n!=n(n-1)! - please see my original post. Apparently...

Thanks for that. I am on a little journey into Maths - I will look up those terms, sound intriguing.

OK then, I'll be even sillier. I get what you're saying - I hope - please correct me if I'm wrong. 0!=1 is a 'definition' in the same way that 1=1 or any other self evident statement is a definition and 'You do no prove a definition in Mathematics'. Does that therefore mean that all the...

No, I am not saying that - I am saying that Mathematicians who use the formula n!=n (n-1)! to prove 0!=1 are using that formula wrongly, and I gave my reasons in a cogent manner for thinking so in a cogent manner. Do you agree with me and if not can you show me where I am wrong?

OK then, you are not listening and I have no idea what you are talking about so see you later!

Ok but superfluous for 2 !=2 (2-1) = 2 X 1= 2= Adding the ! to the right is not needed.

OK, got that

Sorry mate, you've lost me - I am not a mathematician, I'm just an old but still reasonably intelligent Australian fella who likes playing around with numbers. Do you know the film Philadelphia? - the Denzel Washington character says (not verbatim) in one scene: explain this to me as if I'm a 5...

OK, thanks, I will. A question: does the pattern I mentioned in my first post constitute a 'proof'? And, I guess, what then is a 'proof'? Is there any kind of arbitrer - like some kind of ... I don't know...an International Court of Arbitration on Deciding Whether Mathematical Proofs Are...

I am not a Mathematician so the terms I use are probably not correct in Mathematical language. My concern is with the equation n!=n(n-1)! should only to be used for numbers > 2. I contend that using the ! 'function' on the right hand side applies ONLY when one wants to make a shortcut: ie...