Not really true; there is no rule in English that a double negative becomes a positive, as English is not math :P It may be commonly used like this in colloquial English, but it is not grammatically correct ;-)
Regarding #31 - 'Yeah, right' is sarcastic. Thus, it is positive.
Referring to positive as 'P', P+P = P. If P+P = N (negative), then insofar 'Yeah right' is not sarcastic, thus making the professors' affirmation true. Insofar either P or N is sarcastic, it yields truth to the professors' words.
'Yeah, right...' = N; true, but solely because P + P = P; add S (sarcasm) and P + S = N;
Same with 'Su~re'; P + S = N.
The point at hand is that the core of the proposition is P, and adding S makes it N. Regardless of the intonation and how many P or N are there, adding S makes it N; it's not just P + P = N (as stated in the text).
#57 i would have to drown too..fukin wanker go get backup if you dont have graspable limbs sheesh...no offense to all my disabled brothers and sisters..im just saying
Comments (10):
Two wrongs never make a right, but three lefts may.
Referring to positive as 'P', P+P = P. If P+P = N (negative), then insofar 'Yeah right' is not sarcastic, thus making the professors' affirmation true. Insofar either P or N is sarcastic, it yields truth to the professors' words.
"Yeah! Right, man!" is a positive
It depends solely on your intonation. Take this another example:
"Sure!" is a positive
"Suuuure." is a negative
It doesn't matter how many positives or negatives are in a sentence if you know and understand the intonation.
Same with 'Su~re'; P + S = N.
The point at hand is that the core of the proposition is P, and adding S makes it N. Regardless of the intonation and how many P or N are there, adding S makes it N; it's not just P + P = N (as stated in the text).