Bill Nye, 'Science Guy,' condemns creationist influence in classrooms

sedan said:
You are exactly right about the math.

And the only reason we use the decimal system is because we have ten fingers.

There's nothing inherently virtuous about the decimal system ... in fact, it can be downright clumsy.

With respect to computing, the decimal system isn't just arbitrary -- it is an impediment.
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interesting....but irrelevant because it doesn't change the fact that its what we use.....
 
PostmodernProphet said:
interesting....but irrelevant because it doesn't change the fact that its what we use.....
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It is entirely relevant.

A number system is simply a way of representing a number -- a way of seeing or thinking about it.

Just because you can choose to represent a number X in a system that leaves a non-terminating fraction when you divide it by another number Y, that doesn't mean that X can't be divided into Y equal parts.

In fact, you can always choose to represent X and Y in a number system where the fraction terminates (for example, select Y as the base).

And the very fact that you can always do this is in itself a proof that X can always be divided into Y equal parts.

The problem isn't that X can't be evenly divided by Y -- it's the way you're choosing to see X and Y.

The world isn't pink just because you're wearing rose-colored glasses.
 
Americans are on average the most backward thinking people in the world among the modern civilized nations. As if anyone who hasn't been indoctrinated from early childhood would still believe in the sky fairy bullshit!
 
PostmodernProphet said:
depends on how many decimals the calculator is set to display......I expect most would say 1......but, on the other hand.....if I type in 1 / 3 I get .33333333333333333.....and if I type in .33333333333333333 * 3 I get .999999999999999..........
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It does not depend on how many decimals the calculator is set to display. 1 divided by 3 times 3 will always return 1, because that is the correct answer. 3 * .3 repeating = 1 because .3 repeating = 1/3.

The value .333333333333333330 does not equal 1/3 or .3 repeating and .33333333333333334 does not either.

You apparently never really advanced past doing division with remainders. Remainders are almost always reserved for integer division. Even with currency the decimals actually represent an integer value of pennies. Where else would you ever refer to a .01 or .000000000000000001 as a remainder.

To give an example using integer division and where a remainder might be used...

10 divided by 3 = 3 r1 = 3 1/3 = 3.3 repeating

3 r1 is mostly for kids just before they advance to fractions, though modulus can be useful sometimes in programming.
 
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PostmodernProphet said:
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So 78% of Americans are still whacked out of their minds on the sky fairies. No fucking wonder your country is in trouble.
 
PostmodernProphet said:
lol....and the second time you used was when?......
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To explain your moron friend ditzy. Don't you remember? You got confused thinking that 1 in base ten is is 1.2 in base 12. What's sad is your understanding has decreased.

Base 10 and base 12 are just the different tinted glasses.
 
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