Why does the brain make such erroneous assumptions?
- Thread starter sprinkles
- Start date
Yes, if there's equality at all it must logically come from that, under straightedge and compass rules.
For example you weren't allowed to mark the straight edge at say 12cm and then turn it and try to draw another 12cm line because you introduce more chances to make a mistake.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compass-and-straightedge_construction
Of course now we use other improved systems to solve problems that this method could not, but this method was incredibly adequate during its time.
Also see the compass and straightedge construction of a square:
No measuring involved. The points are made equidistant by the method of construction itself, hence the lines may be of arbitrary length. The lines of this square are logically of indefinite length - is n equal to n? Necessarily yes if the same thing is equal to itself. You didn't ensure n was equal to n though, because what is n, and what is not n? This isn't determined in the construction since you never actually defined n.
No measuring involved. The points are made equidistant by the method of construction itself, hence the lines may be of arbitrary length. The lines of this square are logically of indefinite length - is n equal to n? Necessarily yes if the same thing is equal to itself. You didn't ensure n was equal to n though, because what is n, and what is not n? This isn't determined in the construction since you never actually defined n.
I guess precision from construction can start on a table as an engineer draws it for the builder to perform. Thus, equality can result from the construction process. Theodolites, builders levels, and such, are the builder's rules and compasses, GPS coordinates, and electronic distance measurers. They use different tools to actually make and reproduce what is on paper in much larger scales. Nice square, btw.
Yeah. I didn't mean in general anyway, only for ideal squares. Of course, if the practical thing is to measure the square, then that's what you do.
They only had this rule to achieve ideal precision at the time. It was already known to them that more could be accomplished with a marked ruler and measurements in actual practice.
Also I meant geometric construction, which has more to do with abstract theory than physically making things (though it can be applied in practice also). It's more related to algebra than it is to drafting. Still works in drafting though because the theories are mathematically sound and proven.
Of course in actual construction as in building physical objects, you have to measure and check for equality, see if squares are really square, and other things like that.
Last edited: