🚀 go-pugleaf

In article
<Pine.ULT.3.91.97061...@osuunx.ucc.okstate.edu>, Virginia
Krenn <asd...@osuunx.ucc.okstate.edu> wrote:

: On 14 Jun 1997, Jim Sarbeck wrote:

: > Could someone explain to me the natural phenomenon leading to the
: > discovery that zero factorial is equal to one (0! = 1)?
: 
: If you're trying to make the point that (0! = 1) is not a natural 
: phenomenon and that it is simply defined as being true, then you are 
: correct.

Well, yes, and if so, there is a fundamental element of mathematics that
does not map to any conceivable version of nature. But I have to say that
Edd's reply that factorials are a way of ordering things and there is one
'ordering' of nothing, has set me to thinking. For what 'counting
property', call it k, of n physical objects is n! a shorthand notation,
and does k for zero objects equal one, zero, or what? Does this resolve to
combinations and permutations, or what?

Regards,
Jim Sarbeck
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*