this post was submitted on 20 Jun 2024
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Science Memes

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Irrational (mander.xyz)
submitted 5 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]
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[–] [email protected] 25 points 5 months ago (20 children)

But irrational numbers aren't the same as imaginary numbers. Also, there are irrational imaginary numbers. And quantum physics loves using imaginary numbers. So that sentence in the image is nonsense, right?

[–] [email protected] -3 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago) (18 children)

The definition of irrational numbers is that they are the real numbers that are not rationel. So we need to look at the definition of real numbers. A real number is a number that can be used to measure a continuous one dimensional quantity.

Quantum physics says that reality is not continuous. Particles make "discrete" jumps instead of moving continuously. So irrational numbers can't exist.

[–] [email protected] 11 points 5 months ago (1 children)

That is not a definition of the real numbers, quantum physics says no such thing, and even if it did the conclusion is wrong

[–] [email protected] -1 points 5 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (2 children)

Let's have a look.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irrational_number

In mathematics, the irrational numbers (in- + rational) are all the real numbers that are not rational numbers. That is, irrational numbers cannot be expressed as the ratio of two integers. When the ratio of lengths of two line segments is an irrational number, the line segments are also described as being incommensurable, meaning that they share no "measure" in common, that is, there is no length ("the measure"), no matter how short, that could be used to express the lengths of both of the two given segments as integer multiples of itself.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantum_mechanics

Quantum systems have bound states that are quantized to discrete values of energy, momentum, angular momentum, and other quantities, in contrast to classical systems where these quantities can be measured continuously.

The conclusion is wrong, i agree. That's the joke of the meme.

(Keep down voting if it matters to you. I'm only trying to explain a joke. The top post is in agreement with my statement.)

[–] [email protected] 2 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago)

Quantum mechanics still have endless ratios which aren't discrete. Especially ratios between stuff like wavelengths, particle states, and more

[–] [email protected] 2 points 4 months ago (1 children)

I'm fully aware of the definitions. I didn't say the definition of irrationals was wrong. I said the definition of the reals is wrong. The statement about quantum mechanics is so vague as to be meaningless.

[–] [email protected] -1 points 4 months ago (3 children)

Come on then, enlighten the average Joe.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 4 months ago

Google it? Axiomatic definition, dedekind cuts, cauchy sequences are the 3 typical ones and are provably equivalent.

[–] [email protected] -2 points 4 months ago (1 children)

A real number is the set of both rational and irrational numbers. Nothing about continuous anything.

[–] [email protected] -1 points 4 months ago (1 children)

It is exactly that though.

Irrationel and rational numbers are both real.

Quantum physics is limited to the quantum, hence the name.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 4 months ago

Being continuous is not actually a requirement of being real.

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