Monthly Archives: Apr 2009
If 2+2=6, then………………….?
We called in the previous blog the result of the operation 2+2 as 6. or 2+2=6
So we could say that 2×2=6 and so on.
In the final step we got 6×2=18; but how?
6×2=2×6=2+2+2+2+2+2= 6+6+6=18;
Now if 2+2=6 then is 6+6 equal to 12 or 6+6+6=18?
Actually i do not know the answer. I feel that 6+6 will not be 12 if 2+2 is not equal to 4.
Lets take another case; if 2+2=6; then what is 2×7?
2×7=2+2+2+2+2+2+2= 6+6+6+2 (is it correct?)
Even if it is correct; what is 6+2? or 18+2.
Of course, if i change the convention and call 2+2=parrot, then all the above calculations will be redundant, rather……………
This is where my basics of mathematics or logic stands. If the simple convention of 2+2=4 is changed to 2+2=6 ; i do not know how to complete the derivation of other operations like 2+4 or 2×6 or 2×7 or 18+2. Yet i call myself an engineer. Its unfortunate, but that is how we are thought and this is how i learnt.
We are thought that 2+2=4; neither we questioned nor anybody explained why 2+2=4?
What if 2 + 2 = 6?
I have failed to understand why is 2+2=4. Is it a convention or something scientific or something absolute? Its strange to question if the answer 4 for 2+2 is scientifically proven or not. Of course, this throws cascading questions like what is scientific and what is science?
Mathematics is known as the queen of all sciences and physics being the king of all sciences has to follow the queen. So the entire structure of scientific thinking rests on this pair.
Now questioning the rationality the above simple equation(2+2=4) sounds irrational at the outset. But read on, it may not be so irrational.
Many a time i get a strange feeling that these are conventions. It may be true. We just call 4 the result of the operation 2+2. We may as well call it 5 or 6or whatever we feel.
For a moment let us assume;
2+2=6………………………………..1
=>2=6-2………………………………2
If 2+2=6, then 2×2=6……………………………….3
=>2=(6/2)
Therefore (6/2)=(6-2)……………….4
Therefore 6=(6-2)x2
i.e. 6=(6×2)-(2×2)
Therefore 6= 18-6………………….5 (Because, 2+2=6; 6×2=18)
Find out if equation 5 is correct.
There is no message or inference from these equations. But its only an attempt to know whether the mathematics we know is based upon some underlying convention/assumption or its a branch of knowledge which is absolute.
This question stems from digits. We know of numbers 1,2 , 5 ,100 etc. But we cannot define any number without a reference or an objects. For example, number 4 does not have a meaning in isolation. 4 has to be with a reference such as 4th place, 4 bananas, 4 boys etc. As such 4 does not convey anything nor can 4 exist in isolation.
So 4 is a tool to convey the quantity of something(Bananas). So 4 cannot be absolute so 2+2 cannot be absolute. But Banana can be absolute.
Mind you i am only saying “Can be” .
Accept Society- Compassion in action
As soon as i entered the place, i was struck by its cleanliness. One cannot believe that its an hospital or a rehabilitation center. The lawns were moved perfectly, the drains speck clean and the floor nicely wiped. Actually it was in stark contrast to even few big private hospitals who do not even reach 50% cleanliness i saw here.
HIV itself is deadly and the person who contracted it is most unfortunate. One can blame the adults for their misconduct or carelessness for contracting this deadly virus. But what is the fault of those innocent children? They have just got it from their mother. World is really unfair.
Well, no one feels happy visiting those places. But one surely gets moved. The saddest part of the entire thing is that every kid in the society gets to know when there is a death of one of their peers. The administrator told me that there is no way to insulate the news.