Can You Fathom the Dozen?

[StuM]

Originally Posted by Wotname

Then wiki is demonstrating a complete lack of understanding of the meaning and use of dozen.

Not the first or only website to do so I suggest.

Not the first or only time for Wikipedia either. There is a good reason why most educators won't accept Wikipedia as a reference source.

[Blue Stocking]

An un-invited "peck on the cheek" can get you a " bushel of trouble" tho !

[StuM]

I thought I had posted something earlier but is seems to have disappeared. I cross-posted it to the Amps thread and Wottie pointed out that it isn't here, So here it is again:

Wottie,

"What we have here is a failure to communicate".

I just realised that the problem is we are using "quantity" in two different ways.

To quote Wikipedia (which I dislike doing)

Two basic divisions of quantity, magnitude and multitude, imply the principal distinction between continuity (continuum) and discontinuity

When I said that dozen is a dimensionless term and just the same as 12, 42, a mole or Reynolds Number, I was talking about it in terms of multitude. (How many there are). In that context I was correct in my comparison.

When you say that dozen is the same as pound or foot, you are talking about it in terms of magnitude. (how much of something there is).
In that context, you are correct in your comparison.

It's like me saying an orange is not like a basketball because you can't eat a basketball and you saying that an orange is like a basketball because they are the same colour. We are both right!

In dimensional terms, (multitude) a dozen is more like "12" than a foot.
In "non-dimensional" (magnitude) terms it is more like a foot than "12".

[carstenb]

Originally Posted by Wotname

Not a bushel or peck among any of them



EDIT: I don't have an orchard

Actually Wotname - perhaps you are paying them by the half-peck which is a bag(sack) 11cm x 20.5cm x 17cm (twice that size for a full peck, of course)

[Wotname]

Originally Posted by StuM

I thought I had posted something earlier but is seems to have disappeared. I cross-posted it to the Amps thread and Wottie pointed out that it isn't here, So here it is again:

Wottie,

"What we have here is a failure to communicate".

I just realised that the problem is we are using "quantity" in two different ways.

To quote Wikipedia (which I dislike doing)

Two basic divisions of quantity, magnitude and multitude, imply the principal distinction between continuity (continuum) and discontinuity

When I said that dozen is a dimensionless term and just the same as 12, 42, a mole or Reynolds Number, I was talking about it in terms of multitude. (How many there are). In that context I was correct in my comparison.

When you say that dozen is the same as pound or foot, you are talking about it in terms of magnitude. (how much of something there is).
In that context, you are correct in your comparison

It's like me saying an orange is not like a basketball because you can't eat a basketball and you saying that an orange is like a basketball because they are the same colour. We are both right!

In dimensional terms, (multitude) a dozen is more like "12" than a foot.
In "non-dimensional" (magnitude) terms it is more like a foot than "12".

Oh good, I sleep better tonight knowing I don't have correct you for being wrong; it looks like you are right

But the poll shows more people think like me

Seriously, it has been a good discussion - thanks for your input. Oh and thanks to the other contributors