If I cut something into 3 equal pieces, there are 3 defined pieces. But, 1÷3= .333333~. Why is the math a nonstop repeating decimal when existence allows 3 pieces? Is the assumption that it’s physically impossible to cut something into 3 perfectly even pieces?

Question

If I cut something into 3 equal pieces, there are 3 defined pieces. But, 1÷3= .333333~. Why is the math a nonstop repeating decimal when existence allows 3 pieces? Is the assumption that it’s physically impossible to cut something into 3 perfectly even pieces?

In: Mathematics

Answer 1

**Math is not reality, it’s just a *description* of reality.** You can cut your Thing into three perfectly equal pieces, and then describe each piece as:

* 1/3
* .33…
* 1 ÷ 3

…and no matter which description you pick, it doesn’t change the Thing. If you choose .33… then you’re picking a description which is an infinite repeating series. If you pick 1/3 then you’re picking a fraction which is a perfectly even piece of a whole. Either way, your Thing was still cut into three equal pieces, and no description will change that.

You could even describe each piece as 1, and all three together as 3 – that wouldn’t mean that your Thing has tripled from its original size! It just means you’ve changed the way you’re describing reality.