Conservapedia - User contributions [en]

Sycophant

2008-09-06T16:13:07Z

BillP: by request

A '''sycophant''' (from the Greek ''sŷko'', fig + ''phan''-, to show) is an individual who behaves in a servile manner, flattering those in power in order to win favor or advancement. Sycophants are sometimes referred to as toadies, flunkies, sysops or yes-men.

Multiplication

2008-09-05T20:25:56Z

BillP: Undo revision 511250 by Nerd (Talk)Natural numbers are 1,2,3...

In its most elementary form '''multiplication''' is the repeated [[addition]] of [[whole numbers]] or [[integers]].
:For example, <big><math>3\times 2 = 2 + 2 + 2 = 6</math></big>

The result of a multiplication is the ''product''. The numbers which are multiplied together are called ''factors''.

Multiplication and addition of [[number]]s are the two most well-known [[commutative]] operations: They yield the same result, regardless of placement of numbers.

:For example <big><math>3\times 2 = 2\times 3</math></big>.
:Likewise <big><math>4 + 5 = 5 + 4\ </math></big>

==See also==
*[[Multiplication Property of Equality]]
*[[Arithmetic]]

[[Category:Algebra]]

Multiplication

2008-09-05T20:18:13Z

BillP: Undo revision 511246 by Nerd (Talk)commutative property works for natural, integer and rational numbers too

Talk:Multiplication

2008-09-05T20:15:34Z

BillP: /* Numbers vs Real numbers */ new section

==Removing Bible material whose relevance to multiplication is slim==
:Multiplication is mentioned in the [[Bible]] when God tells [[Noah]] to go forth and [[multiplication|multiply]]. (Joke! Really that is a different kind of multiplication.) However, Noah did have to use multiplication when he made the [[ark]], because [[Genesis]] 6:15 says:
::And this is the fashion which thou shalt make it of: The length of the ark shall be three hundred cubits, the breadth of it fifty cubits, and the height of it thirty cubits.
:So Noah knew the [[ark]] had to be a volume of 300 times 50 times 30 is 450000 cubics3, to fit two of all the animals in the world in it.

Since the first sentence is acknowledged to be a joke and not to refer to the arithmetic operation, it shouldn't be there.

The Ark example isn't very good, for two reasons. First, in the Bible, the product of the three numbers is not mentioned, so this is not an example of a use of multiplication in the Bible. (It would be very relevant in an article about the three dimensions of ordinary space).

Second, the computation as presented is almost certainly wrong, since the Ark was surely shaped shaped like a boat, not like a rectangular box, and therefore its volume would '''not''' have been 450,000 cubits3 but some subtantially smaller number, which cannot be calculated exactly from the given data. [[User:Dpbsmith|Dpbsmith]] 20:02, 22 March 2007 (EDT)

== Multiplication table ==

This article should have the multiplication table ("times table"). I suppose that the generic child using Conservapedia already knows it, but having it for review purposes can't harm. In addition (pun not intended!), the table makes it easier to understand the whole concept of multiplication. Unfortunately, I'm completely wiki-ignorant, and don't know how to insert tables in articles. [[User:SilvioB|SilvioB]] 20:47, 30 August 2008 (EDT)
:I think that's a very good idea... maybe I'll try to put something together. [[User:Human|Human]] 17:28, 31 August 2008 (EDT)

== Retreading previous material? ==

Didn't this article used to be longer? I was just putting in some stuff about the symbols used, and it seemed a bit ''deja vu''. Was there a reason for deleting some of this article, and did I miss it? Didn't mean to re-add that which was decided was inappropriate... [[User:Human|Human]] 18:15, 31 August 2008 (EDT)

==Illustrations and examples==

How about a diagram? I've taught multiplication to several children of one-digit age by showing them rows of objects. Like, 2 rows of 6 eggs is 12 (a dozen eggs) or three groups of two coins make 6 coins. Counting by twos is a cheap way to get started on multiplying (and by the way learning your two times table); see [[times table]].

Don't be in a hurry to get all formal and grad schoolish. We need to give our readers practical knowledge. --[[User:Ed Poor|Ed Poor]] [[User talk:Ed Poor|Talk]] 21:36, 1 September 2008 (EDT)
:Can you find and upload a picture of a carton of eggs for us to use? That would be cool. [[User:Human|Human]] 16:47, 3 September 2008 (EDT)

==Symbol==
Several conventions are used to indicate multiplication.
*For simple numbers, the symbol (<big><math>\times</math></big>) used looks much like the letter "X", as in the examples above.
*Since the "X" looks like a letter, and letters are commonly used in algebra to indicate [[unknown]]s, or [[variable]]s, the "dot" is frequently used: A B = B A.
*Alternatively a period may be used to denote multiplication
*Also, in [[algebra]]ic use, quantities are simply juxtaposed to indicate that they are to be multiplied:
: Y = 3aX + 4bZ

Please rewrite the above content, which I just now removed from the article. (Do you know how to use article history? --[[User:Ed Poor|Ed Poor]] [[User talk:Ed Poor|Talk]] 08:16, 3 September 2008 (EDT))

::: I don't really see anything wrong with that content. What is confusing about it? [[User:Philip J. Rayment|Philip J. Rayment]] 10:04, 3 September 2008 (EDT)
::::In the UK when I was at school, a long time ago before the liberals ruined education with "modern math", it used to be the convention that X was the symbol for multiplication and x was the symbol for an unknown quantity.[[User:Malakker|Malakker]] 10:08, 3 September 2008 (EDT) (sorry, hit the wrong button first time.)[[User:Malakker|Malakker]] 10:08, 3 September 2008 (EDT)
:::::An asterisk * is often sometimes used for multiplication (and / for division), especially on computer systems such as Microsoft Excel, although I have also seen it in printed documents as well. I believe (although I may be wrong) that this originates from its use in early computer programming languages such as BASIC. [[User:Sideways|Sideways]] 10:39, 3 September 2008 (EDT)
::::::Yes, that should be added to the list. I actually used it in place of the dot when I was writing the above while I went and searched for the code for the "dot product" symbol. And, yes, the 'sterisk goes back at least to BASIC. I think it's mostly because the dot isn't in the basic ASCII character set (also, it's not on your keyboard...). By the way, who added the incorrect "parentheses" example at the end of the article? [[User:Human|Human]] 16:46, 3 September 2008 (EDT)

If someone can explain how multiplication is used in [[algebra]], then a tiny note about * or "dot" may be in order. But not before. --[[User:Ed Poor|Ed Poor]] [[User talk:Ed Poor|Talk]] 20:04, 3 September 2008 (EDT)
:I thought the "target" age group was "college bound high school age students"? [[User:Human|Human]] 20:39, 3 September 2008 (EDT)

::You thought right. Now stop blathering and do some writing. I want that on my desk in the morning, Jimmy Olsen, or by Great Caesar's Ghost I'll know the reason why! --[[User:Ed Poor|Ed Poor]] [[User talk:Ed Poor|Talk]] 20:43, 3 September 2008 (EDT)
:::I think Human might have meant through his question that if this article was intended for college bound high school age students, explaining the use of multiplication in algebra would be unnecessary. It would be assumed that most people in that age group and at that educational level would have learned the basics of algebra long ago. [[User:ZTak|ZTak]] 21:32, 3 September 2008 (EDT)
::::"Now stop blathering and do some writing." - I don't know if that was supposed to be a joke? I was writing, what I added got edited a bit (what is above is partly wrong...), and then moved here to discuss. Perhaps you (Ed) could write at least an outline of what you envision this article covering? Better yet, as a math teacher, surely you could write it with one hand tied behind your back while being pelted with spitballs? [[User:Human|Human]] 19:14, 4 September 2008 (EDT)

== Math rendering ==

Is there a problem with the rendering of the math mark-up? For me (in both IE and Firefox) the expression following "Likewise" is much larger than the previous examples despite having identical mark-up tags. [[User:BrianCo|BrianCo]] 17:09, 4 September 2008 (EDT)
:Looks fine to me (Firefox). However, before Ed's "force rendering" edit, the expression after "Likewise" looked slightly ''smaller'', so I'd assume that that edit is the key to the size issue. But don't ask me why it's fine for me now while not for you. Check the version before Ed's edit - do the lines look the same to you there? --[[User:DirkB|DirkB]] 17:37, 4 September 2008 (EDT)

== Numbers vs Real numbers ==

Typically students learn addition and multiplication with Natural numbers. Then come Integers, Rational and Real numbers. For a student it is important to know that those are the most well known commutative operations with numbers. Why would you restrict the field and confuse their mind with "real numbers" only? Huh. --[[User:BillP|BillP]] 16:15, 5 September 2008 (EDT)

Multiplication

2008-09-05T20:13:17Z

BillP: Undo revision 511242 by DirkB (Talk)Huh?

Commutative property

2008-09-05T17:09:02Z

BillP: wikilink

{{jargon}}
In mathematics, the '''commutative property''' states that a binary operation <math>*</math> on a set '''A''' is said to be commutative if for all <math>x,y</math> in '''A''' we have <math>x*y=y*x</math>. An Example of a commutative operation is [[addition]] in the [[real numbers]]. When a [[group (mathematics)|group]]'s operation is commutative, it is said to be [[abelian]].

In laymen's terms, an equation demonstrates commutativity when the constants or variables can be moved around an operation without changing the answer (e.g. 1 + 2 = 2 + 1 or 2 * 3 = 3 * 2).
It is as if the numbers are "commuting" from one place to another.

The commutative property implies the [[associative property]].

[[Category:Mathematics]]

Multiplication

2008-09-05T17:07:51Z

BillP: let's keep it simple

Multiplication

2008-09-05T17:07:24Z

BillP: Again, link to wrong "factors".

In its most elementary form '''multiplication''' is the repeated [[addition]] of [[whole numbers]] or [[integers]].
:For example, <big><math>3\times 2 = 2 + 2 + 2 = 6</math></big>

The result of a multiplication is the ''product''. The numbers which are multiplied together are called ''factors''.

Multiplication and addition of [[real number]]s are the two most well-known [[commutative]] operations: They yield the same result, regardless of placement of numbers.

:For example <big><math>3\times 2 = 2\times 3</math></big>.
:Likewise <big><math>4 + 5 = 5 + 4\ </math></big>

==See also==
*[[Multiplication Property of Equality]]
*[[Arithmetic]]

[[Category:Algebra]]

Multiplication

2008-09-05T17:06:23Z

BillP: wrong "product"

In its most elementary form '''multiplication''' is the repeated [[addition]] of [[whole numbers]] or [[integers]].
:For example, <big><math>3\times 2 = 2 + 2 + 2 = 6</math></big>

The result of a multiplication is the ''product''. The numbers which are multiplied together are called ''[[factor]]s''.

Multiplication and addition of [[real number]]s are the two most well-known [[commutative]] operations: They yield the same result, regardless of placement of numbers.

:For example <big><math>3\times 2 = 2\times 3</math></big>.
:Likewise <big><math>4 + 5 = 5 + 4\ </math></big>

==See also==
*[[Multiplication Property of Equality]]
*[[Arithmetic]]

[[Category:Algebra]]

Talk:Media denial

2008-09-04T15:08:58Z

BillP:

== Parody? ==

Since the user who created this article has just been blocked as the sock of a parodist, can this article be safely deleted?
:Sysop J.Martinez doesn't seem to think there's a problem with it. And there's nothing in this article which is not echoed elsewhere on CP. If this is parody, so are all of the other CP terms...[[User:AliceBG|AliceBG]] 10:53, 4 September 2008 (EDT)
::I think it could be read as a parody (it certainly doesn't read as encyclopedic) and since it was created by a parodist who has since been blocked I don't think it's a stretch.

::If it's going to stay could it be improved by linking to some examples of media denial? And cite some reports why the examples given are clearly true?--[[User:JohnD|JohnD]] 11:04, 4 September 2008 (EDT)

::: Good idea, please try... --[[User:Joaquín Martínez]], [[User talk:Joaquín Martínez|talk]] 11:07, 4 September 2008 (EDT)
Hi, I edited the article, but only because I found it confusing, as if those bullet lists were done by Liberals. So I only tried to clarify it. I don't know the original poster (and in fact, I'm very new here). --[[User:BillP|BillP]] 11:08, 4 September 2008 (EDT)

Media denial

2008-09-04T14:30:39Z

BillP:

'''Media denial''' is a term for when [[liberal]] [[media]] outlets deny facts that are clearly true. Some denied facts are:
*That governor Palin is more qualified than either [[Barack Obama]] or [[Joe Biden]] to be president
*That [[abstinence only]] education is better at preventing teen pregnancy than sex education
*That the decline of [[public schools]] is the direct result of the censorship of [[school prayer]]

Media denial

2008-09-04T14:30:19Z

BillP: clarified

'''Media denial''' is a term for when [[liberal]] [[media]] outlets deny facts that are clearly true. Some of this denied facts include:
*That governor Palin is more qualified than either [[Barack Obama]] or [[Joe Biden]] to be president
*That [[abstinence only]] education is better at preventing teen pregnancy than sex education
*That the decline of [[public schools]] is the direct result of the censorship of [[school prayer]]