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Original poster

Why is 0 not a number?

44 replies

ElfOnTheTopShelf · 22/07/2011 21:14

Surely it is classed as a number, even if it is nothing?
I've tried to set a few online things up recently, and my password is never accepted because "it must contain a number". Yes... it does... 0

OP posts:
AurraSing · 22/07/2011 21:16

Are you using O or 0?

TattyDevine · 22/07/2011 21:17

Its not a number, its an additive identity

ThePiperAtTheGatesOfDawn · 22/07/2011 21:18

I am not a munber I am a name

ThePiperAtTheGatesOfDawn · 22/07/2011 21:18

number I mean

Original poster
ElfOnTheTopShelf · 22/07/2011 21:18

def 0, I have a laptop with separate number section (unique to the keys with the characters above iyswim).

OP posts:
tabulahrasa · 22/07/2011 21:19

it's an absence of numbers...seems a bit deep for qualifying for a password though Hmm

TattyDevine · 22/07/2011 21:21

Zero isn't a member of the set of Natural Numbers since you normally don't start counting with zero. A primitive society developing a counting system wouldn't think of "none" ... they'd start counting with "one." Thus, if by "number" you mean "the set of all Natural Numbers," then zero isn't among them. Zero is more of a placeholder digit.

ShellyBoobs · 22/07/2011 21:22

Similarly, black is not a colour.

Yes, I know that's irrelevant, but nevermind.

Nagini · 22/07/2011 21:23

I think they ban it because people always change a word to pe0ple and think they are sneaky passworders :)

thisisyesterday · 22/07/2011 21:24

because it isn't a number. that's why

Original poster
ElfOnTheTopShelf · 22/07/2011 21:25

its frustrating, because its only recently it has become a problem, I have a similar (not same!) password for a few other sites which have all been accepted. The passwords are always over 10 characters, have a 0 and a special character, but 0 now appears to be a no no!

OP posts:
cyb · 22/07/2011 21:26

It has no value

Original poster
ElfOnTheTopShelf · 22/07/2011 21:27

so in terms of keyboards, if it isn't a number, what is it classed as? A special character?

OP posts:
TattyDevine · 22/07/2011 21:29

Its a placeholder, of sorts.

TattyDevine · 22/07/2011 21:30

Y'know, of integers, positive numbers, algebraic structures, that kind of thing.

TattyDevine · 22/07/2011 21:30
Wine
Nagini · 22/07/2011 21:30

marvels at clever tatty

TattyDevine · 22/07/2011 21:31

Oh fuck in terms of keyboards. Its a...its the ) symbols arsehole. Its a little dilated though. Probably too much Friday night bumsex...

TattyDevine · 22/07/2011 21:32

Wine makes mummy clever

complexnumber · 22/07/2011 21:33

I am not a munber I am a name

I love that!

Also agreeing with everything TattyDevine stated, though I'm not sure the definition of Counting Numbers and Natural Numbers is universally defined. (I'm sure it was a little bit different in Turkey.) I could be wrong.

NasalCoffeeEnema · 22/07/2011 21:33

Apparently Oxford and Cambridge differ on their opnions as to whether ity is a number or not

Original poster
ElfOnTheTopShelf · 22/07/2011 21:33
Grin
OP posts:
thisisyesterday · 22/07/2011 21:34

DP says it's because they have a sucky password storage system

so there you have it.

DeWe · 22/07/2011 21:52

Zero is a concept not a number Grin
Like infinity is a concept not a number.
The Greeks (who did a lot of maths) didn't use zero, and I think the Romans referred to it as a word ("nulla" ??) rather than as a number.
Wasn't it the Babylonians that produced zero as a number about 100-200AD.
Often in maths you look at what happens as zero is approached (ie make the numbers get smaller and smaller)

Of course I can also prove to you that 1 = 2 thus producing problems for arithmatic as a whole.

aquashiv · 22/07/2011 21:55

As Cyb it has no value. Poor 0 I think it has a value is nothing not a value?