[chat] Re: [SLUG] Opinions sought: Exim vs Sendmail

[James Gregory <james@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

On Mon, 2003-06-30 at 16:49, mkraus@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx wrote:

> Btw... we can imagine 2^128 (it's easiest to remember it in that
> form...)  ... and for that matter all numbers *are* imagined, not
> real... Numbers are imaginary constructs to describe quantity and
> don't actually exist (ie... You can see 4 ducks, but you can't see a
> 4, only a representation of it.)

You know, that's an interesting question. It was believed for some time
that 0 wasn't actually a number. Likewise, the nature of i (sqrt(-1))
was dubious for some time.

I'm not sure about these numbers that describe quantities though. What
quantity does i represent?

I used to believe what you believe, then I found out about the law of
quadratic reciprocity (I think that's what it's called. The thing about
inverting the legendre symbols. Mathworld knows more). Now I'm not so
sure.

Of course, there are also the elements of R, which are real :)

I'll get back in my box now.

James.