Is zero an imaginary number?

We were going over interesting mathematics theories, and zero came up.
Our verdict was that it has no value, and is simply a frame of reference, but it is NOT an integer, so it isn't exactly a number. Since it doesn't add value, and can't be negative, it doesn't have a specified value.

Opinions?

 

[Shredderbeam]

We were going over interesting mathematics theories, and zero came up.
Our verdict was that it has no value, and is simply a frame of reference, but it is NOT an integer, so it isn't exactly a number. Since it doesn't add value, and can't be negative, it doesn't have a specified value.

Opinions?

Actually, all numbers are imaginary - as you say, frames of reference.

You're right, though, in that zero itself isn't a number - it's the lack of one.

 

We were going over interesting mathematics theories, and zero came up.
Our verdict was that it has no value, and is simply a frame of reference, but it is NOT an integer, so it isn't exactly a number. Since it doesn't add value, and can't be negative, it doesn't have a specified value.

Opinions?

Strictly speaking imaginary numbers are numbers which contain the square root of one in the form x + y*sqrt(-1), and, when squared, give a negative number.

Zero is still zero in any base. 0 base 4 is equal to 0 base 10, or any other base. As you point out it is the origin of the number line or dimension.

Zero is used as a value when the number contains more than one digit. For example '100' in base 8 is 64.

It would be difficult to argue zero has no value, being as zero is a value. But this is more simply demonstrated by the fact that any origin can be described in terms of any other origin. Zero is just the point you've opted to work around, it doesn't lose its absolute value just because you ignore that value in your calculations. It has no relative value in your calculations, because it is the very frame from which relative value is judged.

Maybe someone studying number theory can add something more to this discussion?

 

[mistikman]

I can tell you 0 is neither negative nor positive. That's all I can help you with.

 

[thequestionmark]

it's a concept, that's certainly not imaginary...

 

I never said the concept of zero was imaginary, I said it might be an imaginary number. I wasn't refuting the concept of the number as a whole.

 

[The_Phoenix_HalfBreed]

I don't know but I'd like to see many more of those imaginary numbers following a real number on my paycheck.

 

[Swan]

Zero is a concept denoting nothing, to put it in simplest terms.

 

[Shredderbeam]

it's a concept, that's certainly not imaginary...

Well where is zero in reality? Where can it be seen, or touched?

 

[porman]

Well where is zero in reality? Where can it be seen, or touched?

Same can be said about negative numbers.

 

[Shredderbeam]

Same can be said about negative numbers.

And positive numbers. They only exist as applied to objects within reality.

 

[Masterfaizy]

Zero is a special number, get over it. It's not imaginary.

 

[Shredderbeam]

Zero is a special number, get over it. It's not imaginary.

Where in reality does it exist?

 

[XeroXeroX]

On my piece of paper.

 

[Shredderbeam]

On my piece of paper.

That is a graphical representation of the concept of zero. It is ink drawn in a circular fashion. It is not in itself "zero".

 

[XeroXeroX]

its still reality, evolved from us.

Just like names, and apple isn't a apple, but its still called a apple.

It just like a identity representing materials.

 

[Blak Magik]

That is a graphical representation of the concept of zero. It is ink drawn in a circular fashion. It is not in itself "zero".

Mhmm.
Its the same as our words. They dont really mean what they are, they just represent it.

 

[oooviperooo]

Imaginary number? I never really even thought of it as a number. Just a figure to hold the place of a lack of a number.

 

[tutoneppis]

Numbers are part of the few things that cant properly be explained. "0" isnt imaginary when it comes to numbers such as "200", if it didnt have those "0s" its a completely different number.

 

[waltrulz]

no it's not, if you had one and i took it away you now have none or zero, thats very simple, but it took about 5000 years for the Egyptians to come up with the concept of zero. zero isn't a useful number because it has no value so it can't change anything. is it fake, no it's there but it's not doing anything. we use it to represent something that has become zero, like 1-1=0 it's no longer there which means you have to represent that as zero.