What is the distance within a point and why is it important to discuss?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the concept of distance within a point, questioning its significance and exploring the implications of defining distance in mathematical terms versus philosophical or metaphorical interpretations. The scope includes conceptual clarifications and technical reasoning related to mathematics.

Discussion Character

  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests that a point has a distance that can become zero under certain conditions, drawing an analogy to forces canceling out.
  • Another participant argues that the concept of a point having distance is nonsensical, stating that distance is defined between two points and not within a single point.
  • A participant questions the definition of "distance" as used by the original poster and requests clarification.
  • It is noted that a 2D point is merely a pair of numbers, reinforcing the idea that distance is only meaningful between points.
  • Some participants express confusion regarding the original poster's examples involving purchasing a t-shirt and how that relates to the concept of distance.
  • There are comments suggesting that the thread may not belong in a serious discussion forum, with some participants questioning its validity.
  • One participant emphasizes that in pure mathematics, a point has no dimensions, which contradicts the idea of it having distance.
  • Another participant humorously remarks on the absurdity of measuring distance in monetary terms, further highlighting the confusion in the discussion.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally disagree on the notion of a point having distance, with many asserting that points are dimensionless and cannot possess distance. The discussion remains unresolved, with no consensus reached on the original poster's claims.

Contextual Notes

Some participants express frustration with the lack of clarity in the original post and the relevance of examples provided. The discussion reflects a mix of mathematical reasoning and philosophical interpretation, leading to confusion and contention.

biofine
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people discuss only distances between points but why not within a point itself ?
i think a point also has a distance, and the distance becomes zero just under some condition, which can be thought in the same way as when two opposite forces are canceled out in normal simple physical phenomena ?

you sure hear of the story of how to touch the moon with a finger in Budhism, people touch it by heart.

what do you think ? thanks a lot
 
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I think you're using lots of flowery words to attempt to say what is just true for plain mathematics, has nothing to do with forces cancelling, buddhism, or touching the moon. The distance between two real numbers is denoted |x-y|, and is called the absolute difference. It is 0 if x=y, since it is x-y, if x=>y, or y-x if x<=y.

I'm not entirely sure how to make sense of the notion 'a point has a distance'. It's like saying a table has a cat.
 
Perhaps you should explain why you think "a point also has a distance". It might help if you told us what your definition of "distance" is.
 
A 2D point is just a pair of numbers. Distance is only defined between points so how could one point have distance?
 
Well, when magnifying a point, you'll still get a point. It's not bigger, it's just it. It's not like a circle. (i.e when you magnify a circle, it becomes bigger). So, a point does not have a distance.
 
for example,

i buy myself a new t-shirt at $100

d(I->myself)=100
d(I->myself)=tshirt

abs(distance)=100-100=0
 
What's your point? :P Sorry. I don't understand what exactly you're trying to say...

Points are defined to have no width...they have no dimension.
 
doesn't this belong in the crackpot section or something?
 
biofine said:
for example,

i buy myself a new t-shirt at $100

d(I->myself)=100
d(I->myself)=tshirt

abs(distance)=100-100=0

Umm... What?
 
  • #10
I did not know distance was measured in dollars!
 
  • #11
In pure mathematics, a point merely has no width or length of itself. That kind of concept may work in engineerings or things similar.
 
  • #12
I don't understand why such threads aren't locked.
 
  • #13
biofine said:
for example,

i buy myself a new t-shirt at $100

Then you got ripped off on that shirt, but I still don't see how that has anything to do with a point having distance. :p
 
Last edited:
  • #14
radou said:
I don't understand why such threads aren't locked.
Because it's just too much fun!

Actually, I was hoping that the OP would answer my questions and explain why he had said that. Since he hasn't bothered to respond, I'm locking this thread.
 

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