if your axioms support multiplication you’ll get division out of them for free
this is true... except when it isn't.
In mathematics, rings are algebraic structures that generalize fields: multiplication need not be commutative and multiplicative inverses need not exist
Right. The cells are dividing in half, which would be represented in math form by 1/0.5 = 2. Dividing by one half is the same thing as multiplying by 2, and division in general is really just a visually simplified way to multiply by a fraction of 1.
Any time you divide by some fraction of 1, you will necessarily end up with a larger number because you're doubling that division which reverses it back into multiplication, much in the same way as a negative x negative = positive. If that makes sense.
A mathematician would not be bothered by this. A high schooler taking algebra I might be though, if you phrased it the same way this post did.
a/b is the unique solution x to a = bx, if a solution exists. This definition is used for integers, rationals, real and complex numbers.
Defining a/b as a * (1/b) makes sense if you're learning arithmetic, but logically it's more contrived as you then need to define 1/b as the unique solution x to bx = 1, if one exists, which is essentially the first definition.
Computers don't subtract, and you can't just add a negative, a computer can't interpret a negative number, it can only store a flag that the number is negative. You need to use a couple addition tricks to subtract to numbers to ensure that the computer only has to add. It's addition all the way down.
Clever and I get the joke and it made me smile. If I recall my biology from 20 years ago I think the cell makes duplicates of its chromosomes then splits apart. So you have two cells inside one membrane that separates, 2 / 1 = 2. The way I first thought about it was one cell splitting in half, so half goes to one cell, the other half with the other, 1 / .5 = 2.
In short, I think the math works out fine, but the language you use to describe it can lead to comedy gold. You could say cells reproduce by division? I don't know, I'm not a biologist or mathematician. I'm a toilet poster.
27 Comments
hydroptic@sopuli.xyz · 70 pts · 2y
bort@feddit.de · 12 pts · 2y
this is true... except when it isn't.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ring_(mathematics)
hydroptic@sopuli.xyz · 11 pts · 2y
meowMix2525@lemm.ee · 10 pts · 2y
Right. The cells are dividing in half, which would be represented in math form by 1/0.5 = 2. Dividing by one half is the same thing as multiplying by 2, and division in general is really just a visually simplified way to multiply by a fraction of 1.
Any time you divide by some fraction of 1, you will necessarily end up with a larger number because you're doubling that division which reverses it back into multiplication, much in the same way as a negative x negative = positive. If that makes sense.
A mathematician would not be bothered by this. A high schooler taking algebra I might be though, if you phrased it the same way this post did.
kogasa@programming.dev · 7 pts · 2y
a/b is the unique solution x to a = bx, if a solution exists. This definition is used for integers, rationals, real and complex numbers.
Defining a/b as a * (1/b) makes sense if you're learning arithmetic, but logically it's more contrived as you then need to define 1/b as the unique solution x to bx = 1, if one exists, which is essentially the first definition.
Artyom@lemm.ee · 4 pts · 2y
That's me, a degree-holding full time computer scientist, just learning arithmetic I guess.
Bonus question: what even is subtraction? I'm 99% sure it doesn't exist since I've never used it, I only ever use addition.
kogasa@programming.dev · 3 pts · 2y
Addition by the additive inverse.
Artyom@lemm.ee · 1 pts · 2y
Now you just replaced one incalculable thing with a different incalculable thing.
kogasa@programming.dev · 1 pts · 2y
Eh?
Artyom@lemm.ee · 2 pts · 2y
Computers don't subtract, and you can't just add a negative, a computer can't interpret a negative number, it can only store a flag that the number is negative. You need to use a couple addition tricks to subtract to numbers to ensure that the computer only has to add. It's addition all the way down.
kogasa@programming.dev · 1 pts · 2y
What does this have to do with computers?
hydroptic@sopuli.xyz · 1 pts · 2y
hydroptic@sopuli.xyz · 0 pts · 2y
platypus_plumba@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 2y
Cells: 🫣🫨😢
ProtoShark@lemm.ee · 36 pts · 2y
1 ÷ 0.5
SturgiesYrFase@lemmy.ml · 6 pts · 2y
=2
sorhead@lemmy.world · 30 pts · 2y
It's simple, cells are fractions.
fidodo@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 2y
But it's turning 1 into 1/2+1/2 which is different than dividing by 2.
sorhead@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 2y
No, it's dividing 1 by 1/2 leading to 2.
fidodo@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 2y
The correct answer
I_Has_A_Hat@lemmy.world · 23 pts · 2y
A fundamental disregard for sets and their importance in higher mathematics.
fossilesque@mander.xyz · 46 pts · 2y
ObviouslyNotBanana@lemmy.world · 16 pts · 2y
Damn, owned
GissaMittJobb@lemmy.ml · -2 pts · 2y
This could just as easily had been a reply with:
🤓
hglman@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 2y
Really is.
Cap@kbin.social · 10 pts · 2y
Clever and I get the joke and it made me smile. If I recall my biology from 20 years ago I think the cell makes duplicates of its chromosomes then splits apart. So you have two cells inside one membrane that separates, 2 / 1 = 2. The way I first thought about it was one cell splitting in half, so half goes to one cell, the other half with the other, 1 / .5 = 2.
In short, I think the math works out fine, but the language you use to describe it can lead to comedy gold. You could say cells reproduce by division? I don't know, I'm not a biologist or mathematician. I'm a toilet poster.
faintwhenfree@lemmus.org · 7 pts · 2y
No comments about Amitabh Bachchan's use for meme. Well it should have been a long time coming, I'm glad that it's now here.
Rascabin@lemmy.ml · 3 pts · 2y
Bollywood itself is a meme 🤭. Just watch their version of The Matrix. Dude starts singing with "Trinity", like wtf!??
faintwhenfree@lemmus.org · 2 pts · 2y
Lol it gets wtf long before he starts dancing with trinity.
hglman@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 2y
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Partition_of_a_set?wprov=sfla1
The number of cells in partition is >= 1.
OpenStars@startrek.website · 5 pts · 2y
That's the problem whenever math meets physics: the former wins in the theory, but in the real world physics always triumphs:-).
user1234@lemmynsfw.com · 4 pts · 2y
Engineers: Pass the ketchup!