The Zero Paradox

<p>I have asked this questions many times and have gotten varying answers from all types of people, SAT prep tutors, physics teachers, Math teachers, etc.</p>

<p>Is Zero POSITIVE or NEGATIVE?</p>

<p>I have come across about 4 SAT questions that are in this format "For how many POSITIVE numbers X...", and i have gotten all of them wrong because apparently the SAT thinks zero is positive. So what the hell, are these questions incorrect ? which one is it?! Im pretty much leaning towards zero being positive since all the questions dealing with zero on the SAT consider it to be positive, but it wouldn't hurt to hear from you guys!</p>

<p>Zero is NEITHER positive nor negative. It's neutral.</p>

<p>However, be careful when the question asks about NON-POSITIVE or NON-NEGATIVE. Under this circumstance, zero would be considered in both those sets.</p>

<p>In addition, zero is also considered as an EVEN number.</p>

<p>I haven't seen official SAT questions regard zero as either negative or positive so far. Maybe you could share the problems that you've encountered, and I can help you with them. :)</p>

<p>^i agree with ryan....ZERO is NOT POSITIVE neither NEGETIVE.it's only considered as an EVEN number </p>

<p>please QUIX,share the ques dealing with zero you are getting wrong...this will help us and help you too.....</p>

<p>If you are actually getting different answers from different people, quit using whoever is telling you zero is positive or negative. Either they're lying to you or they have no clue what they're doing: this should have been covered in elementary school.</p>

<p>If, however, they're telling you that zero is non-positive and non-negative and you're taking that to mean that zero is negative and positive, the one making the error is you (as Ryan1119 points out). If you take a number line and mark zero on it, everything to the right of zero is positive, zero and everything to the left of zero are non-positive. Everything to the left of zero is negative, zero and everything to the right of zero is non-negative. Zero is both non-positive and non-negative because it is neither negative nor positive.</p>

<p>Heres an example . </p>

<p>For how many positive numbers a is it true that A x A x A = A + A + A</p>

<p>The only number that works is ZERO, but thats not positive. So the answer must be 0, but it was 1.</p>

<p>A x A x A = A + A + A
A^3 = 3A
Divide both sides by A
A^2 = 3
A = (square root of 3) =<br>
and try it ... it works
since that's is the only positive integer that works.... the answer is 1. The question asked for how many positive integers. Therefore the answer is 1.</p>

<p>Quix, if your problem is worded correctly, i believe there is something wrong, because the answer should be NONE. sq of 3 is not an integer. unless the wording is like "HOW MANY NONNEGATIVE NUMBERS...." till then,i think it's NONE.</p>

<p>0 is a non negative, 0 is a nonpositive, but it's not negative,nor its positive.
1 is NOT a prime. 2 is the only even prime.
wat else:
3 less than 2 is : 2 - 3 i think</p>

<p>maybe u mistakenly worded something wrong, could it be
A x A = A + A?</p>

<p>Guys im positive that thats what the books says, i reread it like 500 times! I chose none but the answer is 1, so then either there is such a integer that works or CB thinks zero is positive. </p>

<p>and it doesnt say intger, just a positive number, KEEPROLLING may be right, ill check.</p>

<p>*quix......give us the page number of BB where the que is stated *</p>

<p>Ok problem solved, Keep-rolling is correct. The square root of 3 works. Well whataya know, i was confused all this time. If i see this question on the real test i will most definitely **** my pants, but thanks to keep-rolling, that wont happen. Hopefully.</p>

<p>Thanks everyone!</p>

<p>^quix,page number plz</p>

<p>Gluttony, the question is from CBS online practice test. Don't worry, the wording of question is exactly the same!</p>

<p>ok,jolly good</p>

<p>Jolly good? :D</p>

<p>ok i misread it then, i thought u meant INTEGERS only...</p>

<p>oh i was right? Lol that was such a lucky guess, i suck at math >_<</p>

<p>Now how do you think that makes me feel? Lol.
If you suck at math, then i must be a damn troll.</p>