Is a glass half empty or half full?

Question

You see, there are a few questions like this and now I try to mathematically solve the riddle...but do you agree with my resulting conclusion?

Empty means there is nothing there...we all know that half of nothing is nothing. A full glass is one glass full...half of one full glass is half So, surely half empty is incorrect (as half of nothing is nothing) and the glass is truly half full (half of a full (one) glass or half of a full...or half full).

Answer 1

Forgetting the psychoanalysis, as you did ask this in Mathematics... yes I agree that something cannot be half way to empty.... simply because you can say nearly empty of course, but there's no real definition. That's like saying halfway to zero.



What number in the infinite amount of numbers is half way to zero?? None.



Half of zero is zero, so there is no "half zero" or "half empty".



Half full on the other hand, with a glass is easier to measure.



So yes, I agree with your conclusion.



As for the psychological question which has been addressed here, despite you saying it's NOT posted for that reason... I always say it's half full.



Whether because it makes more sense or because I'm an optimist is a different question :-)

Answer 2

In a way you are right, but the usage refers to the water in the glass being emptied.



That question is used by people to talk of human psychology, since the optimist sees the glass as half full and a pessimist sees the glass as half empty.

Answer 3

this sentence u usually used to tell whether the person is an optimist or a pesimist . i dont know whether it is a riddle but ur thinking is good. but they finally mean the same its like a glass that is half empty from the top or is half full from the bottom. so what r u trying to prove anyway

Answer 4

Mathematically, I think you are right. But the saying simply

means that there is nothing in half of the glass and something

in the other half of the glass. Half empty does not necessarily

mean half OF empty. But if it does, then like you say, half of

zero is zero.

Answer 5

it is both half full and half empty. what matters is what half you care about. If you only fret about the empty half you have a negative attitude. If you are happy to have the half full part, then you have a good attitude about this situation. the same as every thing in life, focus on the good not the bad. life is made of memories and if you only notice the empty part of the glass then you will remember the empty part of life.

Answer 6

It involves the coordinate or frame reference, which you prefered, either from the bottom of the glass or top of the glass.



We set origin axis from bottom of the glass, it means the glass was filled by water, for instance. Therefore, it can be quoted as "half full".



Conversely, we set origin axis from top of the glass, it means the glass was filled by emptiness, (without water). Therefore, it can be quoted as "half empty".

Answer 7

They both mean the same thing!!



A glass half empty is a glass half empty! because half of the glass is empty as it is the top half.

A glass half full is a glass half full!! because it is half full representing the bottom half.



There is no riddle, they are the same.

Answer 8

i tend to think that a glass is never half full because this would indicate it started empty and if so it rarely stops at halfway when being filled.

it is usually full and is on its way to becoming empty

ergo half-empty

Answer 9

but i would define half empty as half way to empty. So if full is 100 and empty 0 if you are at 50 you are half way to empty.



Personally i think it depends where you start. If you start from 0 and work your way up to 50 then its half full.



However if you start from 100 and drop to 50 then its half empty

Answer 10

I'd say it's half empty if it was full but you have drunk half of it. And half full if you only filled it to half. Well, it makes sense to me lol

Answer 11

This question usually can tell you what kind of person you are. If you answer half empty you are pessimistic (always looking at the bad side of things). IF you answer half full you are optimistic (always looking at the good side of things).



I don't think this question is an actual math question.

Answer 12

an empty glass is empty.



If said glass is half full with fluid, then half the glass is still empty.



Therefore the ''glass'' is half empty.



I see your point, but it is simply a play on words.



My glass is half full by the way.



No, make that one third.



Oops, it's empty.



Back in a mo, just of to the nowhere near full fridge.

Answer 13

I agree with your reasoning.

Plus half full is a more positive statement.

Answer 14

it makes sense



but its a subject of optimism or pessimism



not a mathmatical equation



but then again you can say something is nearly empty, but that doesnt mean that its nothing

Answer 15

This only proved that

a person's brain can be

HALF FOOL

and

HALF EMPTY!!



LoL!!!!

Answer 16

Both. If you see in either ways both are correct.

Answer 17

ENOUGH, you posted this question last month. i saw it and if you plug it in "search for questions" at the top of your screen you'll see your name and question come up.

argh!!!!!!

Answer 18

if you're an optomist then its half full

Answer 19

WHAT GLASS

I HAVE NO GLASS

I WOULD LOVE A GLASS

Answer 20

yeah, i agree with the person who said it tells what kind of person you are.

Answer 21

It is neither and both....