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Arun2009

> Is it not remarkable that 6 sheep plus 7 sheep make 13 sheep; that 6 stones plus 7 stones make 13 stones?

Personally, I find it rather remarkable that a pattern observed from pebbles, sheep or apples (i.e., 6 + 7 = 13) should hold for any set of discrete objects anywhere in the universe. It could well have been that, say, 1 apple + 1 apple = 2.5 apples, but 1 kitten + 1 kitten = 1.5 kittens.

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Not really, because having one something plus one something equal two somethings is pretty much the definition of discrete object.

Yes, I agree and think this is a very smart observation. It doesn't hold for jugs of water, say, if you're allowed to pour water between the jugs.

Nor for sheep if you mix the sexes and leave them alone for a bit.

Cool article, though.

It doesn't hold for loads of things. 1 heap + 1 heap = 1 heap. 1 bunny + 1 bunny = 12 bunnies, depending on how fast you are with your observing. 1 dl of ethanol + 10 dl of water < 11 dl of diluted alcohol.

But "heaps" and "dl of fluid" are not discrete objects, which was precisely my point.

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