How Many Maths are there Exactly?

[¿Que?]

Seriously, I used to think there was only one, we called it math, it sucked, bleh.

But then I hear about people being bad at maths, so I'm like, there are others?

So I'm like, smoking a doobster the other night, and I have a pen and paper. So I wrote the following.

X = math

Then I totally did something totally wacked out. I wrote the following:

2X

BAM! 2X, X = math, therefore 2 maths.

For those of you who may be unfamiliar with this operation. What I have essentially done is resolved a grammatical problem/dispute whatever, with mathematics. That is, the British say maths, it comes from the fact that maths is an abbreviation of the word mathematics. So for example, it's like saying autos instead of automobiles. But Americans say, auto. Look at all dem auto!

But in any case, this is a grammatical interpretation, and since language is dynamic and always in flux, it has no objective basis. On the other hand, my proof relies solely on the principles of logic and reason, mathematics, pure and applied. Therefore, it is entirely rational and objective.

The second part of my proof, I will go on to argue that 2 maths (2x) is indeed an objective phenomenon, and not solely a theoretical issue for mere contemplation. That is, I will empirically prove that 2x is not only an idea, but it has its basis in concrete reality.

So, let's begin with 2x = maths.

2x also equals: math, math (comma is only for delineation)

Now we can all clearly see that the word "math" exists right here on this computer screen, as electrons, digitally transmitted information, etc etc, things I don't particularly feel is necessary to go into, since it seems implicit. As you can clearly see, the word "math" is present twice in the example, and two of something equals a plural, therefore two "math" would be maths, since the English indicator for a plurality is the addition of the letter "s" to the end of a word.

But this is not to say that the proposition "I am bad at math" has no meaning. It is like saying, "I will get in my auto." It sort of does beg the question of which specific math you are referring to though.

i9hQIrsHaS4

[hatzel]

This thread is my favouritesss...

[Jimmie Higgins]

I've always wondered if speed freaks in the UK do meths.

[¿Que?]

I've always wondered if speed freaks in the UK do meths.
That's a very interesting question. Quite good!

[L.A.P.]

high threads are fun

[MarxSchmarx]

Wikipedia sez:


The apparent plural form in English, like the French plural form les mathématiques (and the less commonly used singular derivative la mathématique), goes back to the Latin neuter plural mathematica (Cicero (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cicero)), based on the Greek plural τα μαθηματικά (ta mathēmatiká), used by Aristotle (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aristotle) (384-322BC), and meaning roughly "all things mathematical"; although it is plausible that English borrowed only the adjective mathematic(al) and formed the noun mathematics anew, after the pattern of physics (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Physics) and metaphysics (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metaphysics), which were inherited from the Greek. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mathematics#cite_note-18)In English, the noun mathematics takes singular verb forms. It is often shortened to maths or, in English-speaking North America, math

[¿Que?]

Yeah, MarxShmarx, I think you right. Fuck dem british!

[Jimmie Higgins]

Don't you remember all those US politicians in the 1950s: We must CLOSE the Math-gap with the UK - we only have one while they apparently have many maths!

[mew]

what?

[ken6346]

edit

[hatzel]

Well it ain't called mathsematics :P

Would you shorten 'automobiles' to 'auto' rather than 'autos' because it's not 'autosmobiles'?

[Manic Impressive]

Posh Brits call it math and they like to look down down their noses at people for not using the "correct" word. Well done for doing the same guys!

And Autos? I've never heard anything so ridiculous it's a car.

[Silvr]

Posh Brits call it math and they like to look down down their noses at people for not using the "correct" word. Well done for doing the same guys!


It can't seriously be that easy to offend your national sensibilities....

[Manic Impressive]

It can't seriously be that easy to offend your CLASS sensibilities....
fix'd :cool:

[Jazzratt]

Posh Brits call it math and they like to look down down their noses at people for not using the "correct" word. Well done for doing the same guys!
Perhaps I've never met a sufficiently posh Brit (and I'm fairly sure I've met a few posh Brits) but I've never heard anyone have a go at me for saying "maths" except in trans-Atlantic pissing contests about linguistics.

Actually on the subject of "trans-Atlantic pissing contests about linguistics" the differences in language that people get into such a lather about are largely thanks to British English being the language that changed. Whenever a Brit starts waxing lyrical about how they speak the original and therefore correct form of English the chances are that whatever example they're using is utter cobblers. Of course if you know this and you still want to give the Americans a (good humoured?) knocking you could point out that a stagnant language is probably the outward manifestation of a stagnant culture and that their beer is shit.

[Silvr]

fix'd :cool:

I'm quite positive that the original poster isn't a posh Brit though, or a Brit at all for that matter, so no.

[Prometeo liberado]

I'd chime in but I'm eating a plate full of shrimps.

[¿Que?]

Don't you remember all those US politicians in the 1950s: We must CLOSE the Math-gap with the UK - we only have one while they apparently have many maths!
Best comment here.

I'd chime in but I'm eating a plate full of shrimps.
This one comes in close second.

EDIT: Just got the shrimp joke. DAMN close second.

[Manic Impressive]

Perhaps I've never met a sufficiently posh Brit (and I'm fairly sure I've met a few posh Brits) but I've never heard anyone have a go at me for saying "maths" except in trans-Atlantic pissing contests about linguistics.

Actually on the subject of "trans-Atlantic pissing contests about linguistics" the differences in language that people get into such a lather about are largely thanks to British English being the language that changed. Whenever a Brit starts waxing lyrical about how they speak the original and therefore correct form of English the chances are that whatever example they're using is utter cobblers. Of course if you know this and you still want to give the Americans a (good humoured?) knocking you could point out that a stagnant language is probably the outward manifestation of a stagnant culture and that their beer is shit.
Really? Well they do. And the only reason for this is to assert authority over the other person. I can't stand smug pricks who correct people on how to speak proper. Wherever they happen to be from :rolleyes:

And funnily enough I've never heard it used in a transatlantic pissing contest.

[Manic Impressive]

I'm quite positive that the original poster isn't a posh Brit though, or a Brit at all for that matter, so no.
That makes 0 sense. re-read, disseminate and if you then really feel you need to get back to me feel free.

[Jazzratt]

Really? Well they do. And the only reason for this is to assert authority over the other person. I can't stand smug pricks who correct people on how to speak proper. Wherever they happen to be from :rolleyes:
Oh I can believe that quite easily it's just that I've not seen it myself, so I wasn't aware of it.


And funnily enough I've never heard it used in a transatlantic pissing contest.
Fair enough. It is the standard in the US from what I've seen/heard, used regardless of class. I think in this case the joke is more motivated by provincialism than classism.

[¿Que?]

The joke was actually a subtle reference to Sam Harris. The specific content (Brit vs. US) has no meaning except that projected by the reader.

EDIT: Also, so was the pragmatism thread for that matter. Same question, different approach.