Is Zero Discrete? - Math Explained

[Atlas3]

Is zero discrete?

 

[jedishrfu]

Natural numbers are known as discrete numbers since they are a countable set. Zero is a member of the natural numbers, hence zero is discrete.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_number

 

[HallsofIvy]

I would think that any single object is "discrete", but perhaps I am using a different definition of "discrete".
What definition are you using?

 

[ShayanJ]

Natural numbers are known as discrete numbers since they are a countable set. Zero is a member of the natural numbers, hence zero is discrete.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_number

Zero is a real number too!
Anyway, I think the question is meaningless. Discreteness isn't a property of a single number!

 

[Atlas3]

I have a simple counting question and the use of decimals. Possibly I want to count decimal fractions differently for the purposes of defining the range of something. A different number line of a kind? Folded eventually. Does this seem like a practical forum to ask this type of question?

 

[jedishrfu]

Yes, just open a new thread for your question.

 

[Atlas3]

What definition are you using?

Quantized. I'll open a new thread from here on

 

[Atlas3]

Zero is a real number too!
Anyway, I think the question is meaningless. Discreteness isn't a property of a single number!

It is a quantity. Correct me if its not that please.

 

[ShayanJ]

It is a quantity. Correct me if its not that please.

What is a quantity? If you mean discreteness, then no, its a concept!

 

[Atlas3]

What is a quantity? If you mean discreteness, then no, its a concept!

I mean I can have zero of something

 

[HallsofIvy]

You started by asking 'Is 0 discrete'. I asked what definition of 'discrete' you are using and you responded "quantized". That is a term used in Quantum Physics and is meaningless here. Now you are asking whether '0' is a quantity. Yes, if you ask a store owner, "how many boxes of cigars do you have", the store owner could well answer, 'none'. '0' is definitely a 'quantity'.

 

[Atlas3]

You started by asking 'Is 0 discrete'. I asked what definition of 'discrete' you are using and you responded "quantized". That is a term used in Quantum Physics and is meaningless here. Now you are asking whether '0' is a quantity. Yes, if you ask a store owner, "how many boxes of cigars do you have", the store owner could well answer, 'none'. '0' is definitely a 'quantity'.

Like X.

 

[micromass]

What is X?

 

[Atlas3]

What is X?

I mean like a algebra teacher refers to the quantity X.

 

[micromass]

You mean the variable X?

 

[Atlas3]

You mean the variable X?

Yes but not variable Zero

 

[Mark44]

Yes but not variable Zero

Zero is not a variable -- it is a constant, just like 1 or 5 or -213.7 or $\pi$. A variable can represent an arbitrary number*. Zero is a very specific number.

* - My context here is elementary algebra of the real number line, so I'm not considering variables outside that realm.

 

[Atlas3]

i didn't state varied zero. Constant zero. I wasn't being funny

 

[Mark44]

i didn't state varied zero. Constant zero. I wasn't being funny

You said "variable Zero" in post #16, which I quote again, below. How else was I to interpret "variable Zero"?

Yes but not variable Zero

 

[jedishrfu]

Perhaps you could tell us what are studying and how you came to asking about zero being discrete.

 

[HallsofIvy]

Every time you are asked to clarify something, you answer with another ambiguity. I am starting to think that this whole thread was just a joke. Your original question was "Is 0 discrete?" I asked what you meant by "discrete" and your response was "like X". Please tell us what you think the word "discrete" means!

 

[Atlas3]

You said "variable Zero" in post #16, which I quote again, below. How else was I to interpret "variable Zero"?

It has the word not preceding that word

 

[Atlas3]

Perhaps you could tell us what are studying and how you came to asking about zero being discrete.

I'll try. If I can figure out the forum post editor for markup when I get the time on a computer right now it is cumbersome on iphone

 

[Mark44]

You said "variable Zero" in post #16, which I quote again, below. How else was I to interpret "variable Zero"?

It has the word not preceding that word

Whatever.
What you said was extremely unclear. I have no idea what you're trying to say with "not variable Zero".

Back to the original question, "Is zero discrete?" A set of numbers that is separated is discrete, such as {0, 1, 2, ...,n, n + 1, ...} or {1/4, 1/2, 3/4, 1, 5/4, ...}. I'm not sure it makes any sense to talk about a single number as being discrete.

 

[Atlas3]

Every time you are asked to clarify something, you answer with another ambiguity. I am starting to think that this whole thread was just a joke. Your original question was "Is 0 discrete?" I asked what you meant by "discrete" and your response was "like X". Please tell us what you think the word "discrete" means!

I was asking if zero is considered a discrete value meaning nil but countable. Wasn't asking a philosophical question or making a joke. Just asking if in numbers it is considered the same as any other. Discrete was the answer I received. And thanks the poster for the immediate answer.

 

[Atlas3]

Whatever.
What you said was extremely unclear. I have no idea what you're trying to say with "not variable Zero".

Not a variable value. Invariant

 

[Atlas3]

Whatever.
What you said was extremely unclear. I have no idea what you're trying to say with "not variable Zero".

Back to the original question, "Is zero discrete?" A set of numbers that is separated is discrete, such as {0, 1, 2, ...,n, n + 1, ...} or {1/4, 1/2, 3/4, 1, 5/4, ...}. I'm not sure it makes any sense to talk about a single number as being discrete.

I just answered you again above. You were quicker with another post and missed the clarification. It's above

 

[Mark44]

Question has been asked and

I have a simple counting question and the use of decimals. Possibly I want to count decimal fractions differently for the purposes of defining the range of something. A different number line of a kind? Folded eventually. Does this seem like a practical forum to ask this type of question?

Please start a new thread for this question.

 

[Atlas3]

Question has been asked and

Please start a new thread for this question.

Am I on a deadline. I'll ask in a new thread as suggested. I had work to do besides forum posting

 

[micromass]

No, 0 is not discrete. In fact, 0 being discrete makes no mathematical sense. Unless you can give a precise definition of the term discrete that you are using.