Thread: subtracting real numbers

Can someone explain how to subtract real numbers please?

Originally Posted by rnunez

Can someone explain how to subtract real numbers please?

you mean like 2-1 ??

say you have 2 eges and you cook one for breckfast how many do you have left? the answer is 1

you realy would need some one, maybe you teacher, to walk you through it. it is to hard to explane over the internet.

if you do not mean like 2-1 then exuse me and please tell me what you mean


~dan

Originally Posted by rnunez

Can someone explain how to subtract real numbers please?

I think you want a better answer than dan. Not that I am insulting I am saying it does not satisfy the mathematical mind.

To answer this we need to answer what is a real number?
The first person to define this was Cauchy. The idea is that a real number can be tought of a rational number as close to it. This concept is called Cauchy sequence. It is definied in terms of equivalance classes. Furthermore, one this is definied it is easy to well-define addition and multiplication.

Originally Posted by ThePerfectHacker

I think you want a better answer than dan. Not that I am insulting I am saying it does not satisfy the mathematical mind.

To answer this we need to answer what is a real number?
The first person to define this was Cauchy. The idea is that a real number can be tought of a rational number as close to it. This concept is called Cauchy sequence. It is definied in terms of equivalance classes. Furthermore, one this is definied it is easy to well-define addition and multiplication.

I understand...you would be better at that then me anyhow...i can never explain the simplest subjects...

dan

Originally Posted by dan

i can never explain the simplest subjects...

How dare you!
This is one of the most difficult subjects in mathematics.
This is from the realm of set theory.
It is the foundation of all of math.
It seams simple to those who do not understand math.

Explaining to someone what a number is is extremely difficult.