Does 4D exist in maths?
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Dimension is a mathematical term, so in that sense it exists.
However, people also say that we live in a 4 dimensional universe but what does that actually mean?
The number of dimensions is essentially the number of pieces of information you'd have to supply to accurately determine the location of an event.
Say you lived in a high rise apartment building and were throwing a party. How many pieces of information would you need to give your guests to ensure that they arrived on time?
They'd need to know where your building is, so latitude and longitude, or the corner of 2 streets in a grid or similar which makes it two.
They would also need to know what floor you live on, so three.
Without a fourth piece of information, the time the party was starting, it wouldn't be much of a party.
So, that's the sense in which the universe is 4 dimensional.
However, people also say that we live in a 4 dimensional universe but what does that actually mean?
The number of dimensions is essentially the number of pieces of information you'd have to supply to accurately determine the location of an event.
Say you lived in a high rise apartment building and were throwing a party. How many pieces of information would you need to give your guests to ensure that they arrived on time?
They'd need to know where your building is, so latitude and longitude, or the corner of 2 streets in a grid or similar which makes it two.
They would also need to know what floor you live on, so three.
Without a fourth piece of information, the time the party was starting, it wouldn't be much of a party.
So, that's the sense in which the universe is 4 dimensional.
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