Namespaces
Variants
Actions

Difference between revisions of "Quantity"

From Encyclopedia of Mathematics
Jump to: navigation, search
(Importing text file)
 
m (tex encoded by computer)
 
Line 1: Line 1:
 +
<!--
 +
q0762801.png
 +
$#A+1 = 60 n = 0
 +
$#C+1 = 60 : ~/encyclopedia/old_files/data/Q076/Q.0706280 Quantity
 +
Automatically converted into TeX, above some diagnostics.
 +
Please remove this comment and the {{TEX|auto}} line below,
 +
if TeX found to be correct.
 +
-->
 +
 +
{{TEX|auto}}
 +
{{TEX|done}}
 +
 
A fundamental mathematical concept, the meaning of which was repeatedly generalized as the development of mathematics progressed.
 
A fundamental mathematical concept, the meaning of which was repeatedly generalized as the development of mathematics progressed.
  
 
I) Quantity in the sense of Euclid's Elements is equivalent to what is presently called positive scalar. It is a generalization of more concrete concepts such as length, area, volume, mass, etc. Each definite kind of quantity is connected with a certain manner of comparing physical bodies or physical objects. For instance, in geometry one compares segments by superposition, and this comparison leads to the concept of length: Two segments have equal lengths if they coincide when superposed; if, on the other hand, one segment superposes only a part but not the whole of the other, the length of the former is smaller than that of the latter. More involved methods of comparing surface areas of planar figures or volumes of three-dimensional figures are common knowledge.
 
I) Quantity in the sense of Euclid's Elements is equivalent to what is presently called positive scalar. It is a generalization of more concrete concepts such as length, area, volume, mass, etc. Each definite kind of quantity is connected with a certain manner of comparing physical bodies or physical objects. For instance, in geometry one compares segments by superposition, and this comparison leads to the concept of length: Two segments have equal lengths if they coincide when superposed; if, on the other hand, one segment superposes only a part but not the whole of the other, the length of the former is smaller than that of the latter. More involved methods of comparing surface areas of planar figures or volumes of three-dimensional figures are common knowledge.
  
Accordingly, one may establish an inequality relationship in systems of homogeneous quantities (i.e. for all lengths or for all surface areas or for all volumes): Two quantities <img align="absmiddle" border="0" src="https://www.encyclopediaofmath.org/legacyimages/q/q076/q076280/q0762801.png" /> and <img align="absmiddle" border="0" src="https://www.encyclopediaofmath.org/legacyimages/q/q076/q076280/q0762802.png" /> of the same kind may be equal (<img align="absmiddle" border="0" src="https://www.encyclopediaofmath.org/legacyimages/q/q076/q076280/q0762803.png" />) or the first may be smaller (<img align="absmiddle" border="0" src="https://www.encyclopediaofmath.org/legacyimages/q/q076/q076280/q0762804.png" />) or may be larger (<img align="absmiddle" border="0" src="https://www.encyclopediaofmath.org/legacyimages/q/q076/q076280/q0762805.png" />) than the latter. The meaning of the operation of addition within each kind of the quantities length, surface area and volume is also generally known. Within each such system of homogeneous quantities the inequality <img align="absmiddle" border="0" src="https://www.encyclopediaofmath.org/legacyimages/q/q076/q076280/q0762806.png" /> and the equality <img align="absmiddle" border="0" src="https://www.encyclopediaofmath.org/legacyimages/q/q076/q076280/q0762807.png" /> have the following properties:
+
Accordingly, one may establish an inequality relationship in systems of homogeneous quantities (i.e. for all lengths or for all surface areas or for all volumes): Two quantities $  a $
 +
and $  b $
 +
of the same kind may be equal ( $  a= b $)  
 +
or the first may be smaller ( $  a < b $)  
 +
or may be larger ( $  a > b $)  
 +
than the latter. The meaning of the operation of addition within each kind of the quantities length, surface area and volume is also generally known. Within each such system of homogeneous quantities the inequality $  a < b $
 +
and the equality $  a + b = c $
 +
have the following properties:
  
1) for all values of <img align="absmiddle" border="0" src="https://www.encyclopediaofmath.org/legacyimages/q/q076/q076280/q0762808.png" /> and all values of <img align="absmiddle" border="0" src="https://www.encyclopediaofmath.org/legacyimages/q/q076/q076280/q0762809.png" /> one and only one of the following three relations holds: <img align="absmiddle" border="0" src="https://www.encyclopediaofmath.org/legacyimages/q/q076/q076280/q07628010.png" /> or <img align="absmiddle" border="0" src="https://www.encyclopediaofmath.org/legacyimages/q/q076/q076280/q07628011.png" /> or <img align="absmiddle" border="0" src="https://www.encyclopediaofmath.org/legacyimages/q/q076/q076280/q07628012.png" />;
+
1) for all values of $  a $
 +
and all values of $  b $
 +
one and only one of the following three relations holds: $  a = b $
 +
or $  a < b $
 +
or $  a > b $;
  
2) if <img align="absmiddle" border="0" src="https://www.encyclopediaofmath.org/legacyimages/q/q076/q076280/q07628013.png" /> and <img align="absmiddle" border="0" src="https://www.encyclopediaofmath.org/legacyimages/q/q076/q076280/q07628014.png" />, then <img align="absmiddle" border="0" src="https://www.encyclopediaofmath.org/legacyimages/q/q076/q076280/q07628015.png" /> (transitivity of the concepts  "larger than"  and  "smaller than" );
+
2) if $  a < b $
 +
and $  b < c $,  
 +
then $  a < c $(
 +
transitivity of the concepts  "larger than"  and  "smaller than" );
  
3) for any two quantities <img align="absmiddle" border="0" src="https://www.encyclopediaofmath.org/legacyimages/q/q076/q076280/q07628016.png" /> and <img align="absmiddle" border="0" src="https://www.encyclopediaofmath.org/legacyimages/q/q076/q076280/q07628017.png" /> there exists a unique quantity <img align="absmiddle" border="0" src="https://www.encyclopediaofmath.org/legacyimages/q/q076/q076280/q07628018.png" />;
+
3) for any two quantities $  a $
 +
and $  b $
 +
there exists a unique quantity $  c = a + b $;
  
4) <img align="absmiddle" border="0" src="https://www.encyclopediaofmath.org/legacyimages/q/q076/q076280/q07628019.png" /> (addition is commutative);
+
4) $  a + b = b + a $(
 +
addition is commutative);
  
5) <img align="absmiddle" border="0" src="https://www.encyclopediaofmath.org/legacyimages/q/q076/q076280/q07628020.png" /> (addition is associative);
+
5) $  a + ( b + c) = ( a + b) + c $(
 +
addition is associative);
  
6) <img align="absmiddle" border="0" src="https://www.encyclopediaofmath.org/legacyimages/q/q076/q076280/q07628021.png" /> (addition is monotone);
+
6) $  a + b > a $(
 +
addition is monotone);
  
7) if <img align="absmiddle" border="0" src="https://www.encyclopediaofmath.org/legacyimages/q/q076/q076280/q07628022.png" />, there exists one and only one quantity <img align="absmiddle" border="0" src="https://www.encyclopediaofmath.org/legacyimages/q/q076/q076280/q07628023.png" /> for which <img align="absmiddle" border="0" src="https://www.encyclopediaofmath.org/legacyimages/q/q076/q076280/q07628024.png" /> (possibility of subtraction);
+
7) if $  a > b $,  
 +
there exists one and only one quantity $  c $
 +
for which $  b + c = a $(
 +
possibility of subtraction);
  
8) for any <img align="absmiddle" border="0" src="https://www.encyclopediaofmath.org/legacyimages/q/q076/q076280/q07628025.png" /> and any natural number <img align="absmiddle" border="0" src="https://www.encyclopediaofmath.org/legacyimages/q/q076/q076280/q07628026.png" /> there exists a quantity <img align="absmiddle" border="0" src="https://www.encyclopediaofmath.org/legacyimages/q/q076/q076280/q07628027.png" /> such that <img align="absmiddle" border="0" src="https://www.encyclopediaofmath.org/legacyimages/q/q076/q076280/q07628028.png" /> (possibility of division);
+
8) for any $  a $
 +
and any natural number $  n $
 +
there exists a quantity $  b $
 +
such that $  nb = a $(
 +
possibility of division);
  
9) for all <img align="absmiddle" border="0" src="https://www.encyclopediaofmath.org/legacyimages/q/q076/q076280/q07628029.png" /> and <img align="absmiddle" border="0" src="https://www.encyclopediaofmath.org/legacyimages/q/q076/q076280/q07628030.png" /> there exists a natural number <img align="absmiddle" border="0" src="https://www.encyclopediaofmath.org/legacyimages/q/q076/q076280/q07628031.png" /> such that <img align="absmiddle" border="0" src="https://www.encyclopediaofmath.org/legacyimages/q/q076/q076280/q07628032.png" />. This property is known as the property of Eudoxus or the axiom of Archimedes. It, together with the more elementary properties 1)–8), is implicit to the theory of measuring these quantities, developed by the mathematicians of Ancient Greece.
+
9) for all $  a $
 +
and $  b $
 +
there exists a natural number $  n $
 +
such that $  a < nb $.  
 +
This property is known as the property of Eudoxus or the axiom of Archimedes. It, together with the more elementary properties 1)–8), is implicit to the theory of measuring these quantities, developed by the mathematicians of Ancient Greece.
  
If some length <img align="absmiddle" border="0" src="https://www.encyclopediaofmath.org/legacyimages/q/q076/q076280/q07628033.png" /> is taken to be the unit, the system <img align="absmiddle" border="0" src="https://www.encyclopediaofmath.org/legacyimages/q/q076/q076280/q07628034.png" /> of all lengths in a rational relation with <img align="absmiddle" border="0" src="https://www.encyclopediaofmath.org/legacyimages/q/q076/q076280/q07628035.png" /> satisfies the requirements 1)–9). The existence of mutually incommensurable segments (the discovery of which is usually credited to the Pythagoreans, 5th century B.C.) shows that the system <img align="absmiddle" border="0" src="https://www.encyclopediaofmath.org/legacyimages/q/q076/q076280/q07628036.png" /> does not comprise the system <img align="absmiddle" border="0" src="https://www.encyclopediaofmath.org/legacyimages/q/q076/q076280/q07628037.png" /> of all possible lengths.
+
If some length $  l $
 +
is taken to be the unit, the system $  s  ^  \prime  $
 +
of all lengths in a rational relation with $  l $
 +
satisfies the requirements 1)–9). The existence of mutually incommensurable segments (the discovery of which is usually credited to the Pythagoreans, 5th century B.C.) shows that the system $  s  ^  \prime  $
 +
does not comprise the system $  s $
 +
of all possible lengths.
  
 
In order to obtain an ultimate theory of quantities, some continuity axiom must be added to the requirements 1)–9), for example:
 
In order to obtain an ultimate theory of quantities, some continuity axiom must be added to the requirements 1)–9), for example:
  
10) if, for a sequence of quantities <img align="absmiddle" border="0" src="https://www.encyclopediaofmath.org/legacyimages/q/q076/q076280/q07628038.png" />, there holds that <img align="absmiddle" border="0" src="https://www.encyclopediaofmath.org/legacyimages/q/q076/q076280/q07628039.png" /> for any quantity <img align="absmiddle" border="0" src="https://www.encyclopediaofmath.org/legacyimages/q/q076/q076280/q07628040.png" /> and for <img align="absmiddle" border="0" src="https://www.encyclopediaofmath.org/legacyimages/q/q076/q076280/q07628041.png" /> sufficiently large, then there exists a unique quantity <img align="absmiddle" border="0" src="https://www.encyclopediaofmath.org/legacyimages/q/q076/q076280/q07628042.png" /> which is larger than all <img align="absmiddle" border="0" src="https://www.encyclopediaofmath.org/legacyimages/q/q076/q076280/q07628043.png" /> and smaller than all <img align="absmiddle" border="0" src="https://www.encyclopediaofmath.org/legacyimages/q/q076/q076280/q07628044.png" />.
+
10) if, for a sequence of quantities $  a _ {1} < a _ {2} < \dots < \dots < b _ {2} < b _ {1} $,  
 
+
there holds that $  b _ {n} - a _ {n} < c $
Properties 1)–10) also define the most modern concept of a system of positive scalar quantities. If some quantity <img align="absmiddle" border="0" src="https://www.encyclopediaofmath.org/legacyimages/q/q076/q076280/q07628045.png" /> is accepted as the measurement unit in such a system, all other quantities of the system can be uniquely represented as <img align="absmiddle" border="0" src="https://www.encyclopediaofmath.org/legacyimages/q/q076/q076280/q07628046.png" />, where <img align="absmiddle" border="0" src="https://www.encyclopediaofmath.org/legacyimages/q/q076/q076280/q07628047.png" /> is a positive real number.
+
for any quantity $  c $
 
+
and for $  n $
II) The study of directed segments on a straight line, velocities with the possibility of two opposite directions and of similar quantities naturally leads to a generalization of the concept of a scalar quantity which is fundamental in mechanics and in physics. The system of scalar quantities thus understood includes not only positive but also negative quantities and a zero. If some positive quantity <img align="absmiddle" border="0" src="https://www.encyclopediaofmath.org/legacyimages/q/q076/q076280/q07628048.png" /> in such a system is selected as the measurement unit, all other quantities in the system are expressed as <img align="absmiddle" border="0" src="https://www.encyclopediaofmath.org/legacyimages/q/q076/q076280/q07628049.png" />, where <img align="absmiddle" border="0" src="https://www.encyclopediaofmath.org/legacyimages/q/q076/q076280/q07628050.png" /> is a real number which may be positive, negative or zero. A system of scalar quantities in this sense can obviously also be characterized and defined axiomatically, without basing it on the concept of number. To do this, the requirements 1)–10) defining positive scalar quantities would have to be modified to some extent.
+
sufficiently large, then there exists a unique quantity $  x $
 +
which is larger than all $  a _ {n} $
 +
and smaller than all $  b _ {n} $.
  
III) In a wider sense of the word, vectors, tensors and other  "non-scalars" may also be called "quantities" (cf. [[Vector|Vector]]; [[Tensor on a vector space|Tensor on a vector space]]). Such quantities may be added, but the inequality relation <img align="absmiddle" border="0" src="https://www.encyclopediaofmath.org/legacyimages/q/q076/q076280/q07628051.png" /> becomes meaningless.
+
Properties 1)–10) also define the most modern concept of a system of positive scalar quantities. If some quantity  $  l $
 +
is accepted as the measurement unit in such a system, all other quantities of the system can be uniquely represented as $ a = \alpha l $,
 +
where $ \alpha $
 +
is a positive real number.
  
IV) In certain more abstract mathematical studies "non-Archimedean" quantities are considered. They resemble ordinary scalar quantities in that they satisfy the usual inequality requirements, but do not satisfy axiom 9) (this axiom is satisfied for scalar quantities of type II above if <img align="absmiddle" border="0" src="https://www.encyclopediaofmath.org/legacyimages/q/q076/q076280/q07628052.png" />).
+
II) The study of directed segments on a straight line, velocities with the possibility of two opposite directions and of similar quantities naturally leads to a generalization of the concept of a scalar quantity which is fundamental in mechanics and in physics. The system of scalar quantities thus understood includes not only positive but also negative quantities and a zero. If some positive quantity $ l $
 +
in such a system is selected as the measurement unit, all other quantities in the system are expressed as  $  a = \alpha l $,
 +
where  $  \alpha $
 +
is a real number which may be positive, negative or zero. A system of scalar quantities in this sense can obviously also be characterized and defined axiomatically, without basing it on the concept of number. To do this, the requirements 1)–10) defining positive scalar quantities would have to be modified to some extent.
  
V) Since the system of positive real numbers satisfies the requirements 1)–10) above, while the system of all real numbers displays all the properties of scalar quantities, it is perfectly legal to give the name of "quantitiesto real numbers themselves. This is common practice, in particular, when considering variable quantities. If some given concrete quantity, say the length <img align="absmiddle" border="0" src="https://www.encyclopediaofmath.org/legacyimages/q/q076/q076280/q07628053.png" /> of a heated metal rod, varies with time, then the measured number <img align="absmiddle" border="0" src="https://www.encyclopediaofmath.org/legacyimages/q/q076/q076280/q07628054.png" /> varies as well (if <img align="absmiddle" border="0" src="https://www.encyclopediaofmath.org/legacyimages/q/q076/q076280/q07628055.png" /> remains constant). This time-variable number <img align="absmiddle" border="0" src="https://www.encyclopediaofmath.org/legacyimages/q/q076/q076280/q07628056.png" /> is said to be a variable quantity, and it is customary to say that <img align="absmiddle" border="0" src="https://www.encyclopediaofmath.org/legacyimages/q/q076/q076280/q07628057.png" /> assumes "numerical values" <img align="absmiddle" border="0" src="https://www.encyclopediaofmath.org/legacyimages/q/q076/q076280/q07628058.png" /> at some successive moments of time <img align="absmiddle" border="0" src="https://www.encyclopediaofmath.org/legacyimages/q/q076/q076280/q07628059.png" />. It is not usual to speak of  "variable numbers"  in the traditional mathematical terminology, but the following point of view seems logical: numbers, just like lengths, volumes, etc., are particular cases of quantities and, like all quantities, may be both variable and constant. It is just as legitimate to consider variable vectors, tensors, etc., in this way.
+
III) In a wider sense of the word, vectors, tensors and other "non-scalarsmay also be called  "quantities" (cf. [[Vector|Vector]]; [[Tensor on a vector space|Tensor on a vector space]]). Such quantities may be added, but the inequality relation $ a < b $
 +
becomes meaningless.
  
 +
IV) In certain more abstract mathematical studies  "non-Archimedean"  quantities are considered. They resemble ordinary scalar quantities in that they satisfy the usual inequality requirements, but do not satisfy axiom 9) (this axiom is satisfied for scalar quantities of type II above if  $  b > 0 $).
  
 +
V) Since the system of positive real numbers satisfies the requirements 1)–10) above, while the system of all real numbers displays all the properties of scalar quantities, it is perfectly legal to give the name of  "quantities"  to real numbers themselves. This is common practice, in particular, when considering variable quantities. If some given concrete quantity, say the length  $  l $
 +
of a heated metal rod, varies with time, then the measured number  $  x = l/ l _ {0} $
 +
varies as well (if  $  l _ {0} $
 +
remains constant). This time-variable number  $  x $
 +
is said to be a variable quantity, and it is customary to say that  $  x $
 +
assumes  "numerical values"  $  x _ {1} , x _ {2} \dots $
 +
at some successive moments of time  $  t _ {1} , t _ {2} , .  .  . $.
 +
It is not usual to speak of  "variable numbers"  in the traditional mathematical terminology, but the following point of view seems logical: numbers, just like lengths, volumes, etc., are particular cases of quantities and, like all quantities, may be both variable and constant. It is just as legitimate to consider variable vectors, tensors, etc., in this way.
  
 
====Comments====
 
====Comments====
Property 1) is also called the trichotomy law. Property 7) is in fact the definition of <img align="absmiddle" border="0" src="https://www.encyclopediaofmath.org/legacyimages/q/q076/q076280/q07628060.png" />, and 8) is the definition of homogeneous magnitudes (see Euclid's Elements, Book V, Definition 4).
+
Property 1) is also called the trichotomy law. Property 7) is in fact the definition of $  a > b $,  
 +
and 8) is the definition of homogeneous magnitudes (see Euclid's Elements, Book V, Definition 4).
  
 
In relation to the existence of mutually incommensurable segments, the name of Hippasos of Metapontum is also often mentioned.
 
In relation to the existence of mutually incommensurable segments, the name of Hippasos of Metapontum is also often mentioned.

Latest revision as of 08:08, 6 June 2020


A fundamental mathematical concept, the meaning of which was repeatedly generalized as the development of mathematics progressed.

I) Quantity in the sense of Euclid's Elements is equivalent to what is presently called positive scalar. It is a generalization of more concrete concepts such as length, area, volume, mass, etc. Each definite kind of quantity is connected with a certain manner of comparing physical bodies or physical objects. For instance, in geometry one compares segments by superposition, and this comparison leads to the concept of length: Two segments have equal lengths if they coincide when superposed; if, on the other hand, one segment superposes only a part but not the whole of the other, the length of the former is smaller than that of the latter. More involved methods of comparing surface areas of planar figures or volumes of three-dimensional figures are common knowledge.

Accordingly, one may establish an inequality relationship in systems of homogeneous quantities (i.e. for all lengths or for all surface areas or for all volumes): Two quantities $ a $ and $ b $ of the same kind may be equal ( $ a= b $) or the first may be smaller ( $ a < b $) or may be larger ( $ a > b $) than the latter. The meaning of the operation of addition within each kind of the quantities length, surface area and volume is also generally known. Within each such system of homogeneous quantities the inequality $ a < b $ and the equality $ a + b = c $ have the following properties:

1) for all values of $ a $ and all values of $ b $ one and only one of the following three relations holds: $ a = b $ or $ a < b $ or $ a > b $;

2) if $ a < b $ and $ b < c $, then $ a < c $( transitivity of the concepts "larger than" and "smaller than" );

3) for any two quantities $ a $ and $ b $ there exists a unique quantity $ c = a + b $;

4) $ a + b = b + a $( addition is commutative);

5) $ a + ( b + c) = ( a + b) + c $( addition is associative);

6) $ a + b > a $( addition is monotone);

7) if $ a > b $, there exists one and only one quantity $ c $ for which $ b + c = a $( possibility of subtraction);

8) for any $ a $ and any natural number $ n $ there exists a quantity $ b $ such that $ nb = a $( possibility of division);

9) for all $ a $ and $ b $ there exists a natural number $ n $ such that $ a < nb $. This property is known as the property of Eudoxus or the axiom of Archimedes. It, together with the more elementary properties 1)–8), is implicit to the theory of measuring these quantities, developed by the mathematicians of Ancient Greece.

If some length $ l $ is taken to be the unit, the system $ s ^ \prime $ of all lengths in a rational relation with $ l $ satisfies the requirements 1)–9). The existence of mutually incommensurable segments (the discovery of which is usually credited to the Pythagoreans, 5th century B.C.) shows that the system $ s ^ \prime $ does not comprise the system $ s $ of all possible lengths.

In order to obtain an ultimate theory of quantities, some continuity axiom must be added to the requirements 1)–9), for example:

10) if, for a sequence of quantities $ a _ {1} < a _ {2} < \dots < \dots < b _ {2} < b _ {1} $, there holds that $ b _ {n} - a _ {n} < c $ for any quantity $ c $ and for $ n $ sufficiently large, then there exists a unique quantity $ x $ which is larger than all $ a _ {n} $ and smaller than all $ b _ {n} $.

Properties 1)–10) also define the most modern concept of a system of positive scalar quantities. If some quantity $ l $ is accepted as the measurement unit in such a system, all other quantities of the system can be uniquely represented as $ a = \alpha l $, where $ \alpha $ is a positive real number.

II) The study of directed segments on a straight line, velocities with the possibility of two opposite directions and of similar quantities naturally leads to a generalization of the concept of a scalar quantity which is fundamental in mechanics and in physics. The system of scalar quantities thus understood includes not only positive but also negative quantities and a zero. If some positive quantity $ l $ in such a system is selected as the measurement unit, all other quantities in the system are expressed as $ a = \alpha l $, where $ \alpha $ is a real number which may be positive, negative or zero. A system of scalar quantities in this sense can obviously also be characterized and defined axiomatically, without basing it on the concept of number. To do this, the requirements 1)–10) defining positive scalar quantities would have to be modified to some extent.

III) In a wider sense of the word, vectors, tensors and other "non-scalars" may also be called "quantities" (cf. Vector; Tensor on a vector space). Such quantities may be added, but the inequality relation $ a < b $ becomes meaningless.

IV) In certain more abstract mathematical studies "non-Archimedean" quantities are considered. They resemble ordinary scalar quantities in that they satisfy the usual inequality requirements, but do not satisfy axiom 9) (this axiom is satisfied for scalar quantities of type II above if $ b > 0 $).

V) Since the system of positive real numbers satisfies the requirements 1)–10) above, while the system of all real numbers displays all the properties of scalar quantities, it is perfectly legal to give the name of "quantities" to real numbers themselves. This is common practice, in particular, when considering variable quantities. If some given concrete quantity, say the length $ l $ of a heated metal rod, varies with time, then the measured number $ x = l/ l _ {0} $ varies as well (if $ l _ {0} $ remains constant). This time-variable number $ x $ is said to be a variable quantity, and it is customary to say that $ x $ assumes "numerical values" $ x _ {1} , x _ {2} \dots $ at some successive moments of time $ t _ {1} , t _ {2} , . . . $. It is not usual to speak of "variable numbers" in the traditional mathematical terminology, but the following point of view seems logical: numbers, just like lengths, volumes, etc., are particular cases of quantities and, like all quantities, may be both variable and constant. It is just as legitimate to consider variable vectors, tensors, etc., in this way.

Comments

Property 1) is also called the trichotomy law. Property 7) is in fact the definition of $ a > b $, and 8) is the definition of homogeneous magnitudes (see Euclid's Elements, Book V, Definition 4).

In relation to the existence of mutually incommensurable segments, the name of Hippasos of Metapontum is also often mentioned.

References

[a1] J.L. Heiberg (ed.) E.S. Stamatis (ed.) , Euclid, The Elements , I-IV , Teubner (1969–1973)
[a2] Th.L. Heath, "The thirteen books of Euclid's elements" , Cambridge Univ. Press (1926) (Dover, reprint, 1956)
[a3] W.R. Knorr, "The evolution of the Euclidean elements" , Reidel (1975)
How to Cite This Entry:
Quantity. Encyclopedia of Mathematics. URL: http://encyclopediaofmath.org/index.php?title=Quantity&oldid=14536
This article was adapted from an original article by A.N. Kolmogorov (originator), which appeared in Encyclopedia of Mathematics - ISBN 1402006098. See original article