To nullify something means to make it invalid
or ineffective. A peace treaty is an attempt to
nullify aggression and division within a region.
If you take a null, or a zero, and make it into an action you can
take, and you’ve got nullify — the act of making something void
or zero-like. If you have an argument with your friend, it might nullify the fun you had together
that day. This word is particularly used in legal language — a divorce nullifies a marriage —
or in business disputes where you are trying to nullify someone else’s actions or plans.
DEFINITIONS AND USAGE EXAMPLES
Pronunciation: [nuhl-uh-fahy]
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Declare invalid
Show to be invalid
Make ineffective by counterbalancing the effect of
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Synonyms: annul, avoid, invalidate, quash, void; negate, neutralize
Directions: Discuss the meaning of the word with your students, with special emphasis on any variations or
nuances of the word specific to your discipline. Consider taking it a step further by using one or all of the
following ideas as you involve students with the new vocabulary. Remember to preview all
content you intend to share with students. Not all items on the lists provided below are
appropriate for all classes or age levels.
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(Current Events/Economics/Social Science)
“California Bill Legalizes Alternative Currencies Like Bitcoin and Dogecoin”
June 29th, 2014, Rueters reported that “California governor Jerry Brown has
passed a bill that effectively reverses the state's stance on alternative
currencies. The bill, dubbed AB 129, nullifies an older bill that made other
currencies besides the dollar illegal.
Click on the picture to link to
the article.
The bill applies to points systems like Amazon Coins or Starbucks Stars, but
also to new currencies like bitcoin and dogecoin. ‘In an era of evolving
payment methods, from Amazon Coins to Starbucks Stars, it is impractical to
ignore the growing use of cash alternatives,’ said State Assemblyman Roger
Dickinson in a recent statement to the LA Times.”
From: The Verge, 29 June 2014
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(Science) : “Grabbing Cancer by the Short and Curlies”
A provocative title for an article about a “new” (2011) technique for analyzing tumors
that promises better understanding and more effective treatment
ONE of the great hopes nurtured by the Human Genome Project was that it would crack
cancer open. Knowing which genes were going wrong would, the theory went, allow
specifically tailored drugs to be developed. And this is, indeed, happening. Only last
month America's Food and Drug Administration approved a medicine called Xalkori
(generically, crizotinib) for patients who have a particular type of non-small-cell lung
cancer, the most common form of that disease. . . .
Click on the picture to link to
the article.
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Double-stranded RNA does exist, but mostly in viruses. Mammalian cells make only the
single-stranded variety. If a cell's defence mechanisms detect double-stranded RNA they
destroy it, to protect against infection. . . . This adversity to double-stranded RNA means
short hairpins can be used to knock out the messengers, thus nullifying the signal from
the underlying gene.
From: the “Oncology and Genetics” section of The Economist, 21 Sept. 2011
(Health) : “13 Ways to Beat a Cold”
Number 4 on the list: “Try over-the-counter medicines. Remember,
we're talking symptom management. So while those products on drugstore
shelves won't shorten the length of your cold or kill the virus, they'll likely
help nullify the symptoms. Cough and cold medications can bring some
relief, Bennett says, adding that antihistamines may help watery-eyed,
sneezing cold sufferers, and saline nasal solutions may help folks with dry
noses. Ibuprofen and acetaminophen may help subdue body aches and
slight fevers.”
Click on the picture to link to
the Article.
Consider discussing with students the difference between “curing” the cold and “nullifying” the symptoms.

(Science/Astronomy)
“Europe's Gaia Telescope Grapples with Stray Light”
17 June 2014—BBC News: Science and Environment
“Gaia was sent into orbit in December to do astrometry on a billion stars to map their precise positions, distances and motions. . . . Part of Gaia's
measurement strategy requires it to look at two parts of the sky at the same
time to lock a frame of reference. This is why it carries two telescopes held
rigidly at an offset angle of 106.5 degrees. Great effort was put into making
sure this basic angle was absolutely stable, with many components being
constructed out of stiff silicon carbide as a consequence.
But a vanishingly small flexure is being detected - fractionally beyond what
had been anticipated. The team believes, though, it can nullify any impacts
if the behavior can be properly characterized.”
Consider discussing with students how characterizing the behavior can
nullify the impacts.
Click on the picture to link to
the article.
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(Sports)
Discuss with your students these two instances of touchdowns being nullified—what does it mean? Why
was the touchdown nullified? Is it appropriate and fair that the touchdown was nullified in each of these
instances, and why?
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Saints vs. 49ers—“Graham was penalized for shoving cornerback Perrish Cox when
the ball was in the air, and the touchdown was nullified.” Los Angeles
Times Nov 8, 2014
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Bengals vs. Jaguars—“He had another touchdown catch nullified because he lined up beyond
the line of scrimmage.” Washington Times Nov 2, 2014
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(History/Social Science)
Innovation and discovery as chronicled in past issues of Scientific American
(150+ years ago)
From the December 1861 Issue:
Patents
“From inquiries repeatedly made of us as to who are the legitimate
owners of inventions issued under various circumstances, a few
items of information under this head will interest our inventor
readers at least. In regard to inventions made by slaves, it has been
the practice of the Patent Office to reject such applications, as they
are considered legally incompetent alike to receive the patent and to
transfer their interest to others. In reference to free colored men, we
believe them also to be incompetent to receive a patent, as under the
United States Laws they are not regarded as citizens, and could not
therefore defend a patent against infringers in the United States
courts.”
The Dred Scott decision of 1857 that legalized this situation was
nullified by the Thirteenth, Fourteenth and Fifteenth amendments
to the Constitution.
Click on the picture to link to
the article.
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(Science/Psychology)
Definitions and Examples of a Null Hypothesis:
Definition:
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Click on the picture to link to
The simplistic definition of the null is as the opposite of the alternative
the article.
hypothesis, H1, although the principle is a little more complex than that.
The null hypothesis (H0) is a hypothesis which the researcher tries to disprove, reject or nullify.
The 'null' often refers to the common view of something, while the alternative hypothesis is what the
researcher really thinks is the cause of a phenomenon.
Example:
A researcher may postulate a hypothesis:
H1: Tomato plants exhibit a higher rate of growth when planted in compost rather than in soil.
And a null hypothesis:
H0: Tomato plants do not exhibit a higher rate of growth when planted in compost rather than soil.
AND . . .
Null Hypothesis (H0)
In many cases the purpose of research is to answer a question or test a prediction, generally stated in the
form of hypotheses (-is, singular form) -- testable propositions. Examples:
Question
Hypothesis
Does a training program in driver safety
result in a decline in accident rate?
People who take a driver safety course will have a lower
accident rate than those who do not take the course.
Who is better in math, men or women?
Men are better at math than women.
What is the relationship between age and
cell phone use?
Cell phone use is higher for younger adults than for older
adults.
Is there a relationship between education
and income?
Income increases with years of education.
Can public education reduce the occurrence The number of AIDS cases is inversely related to the amount
of AIDS?
of public education about the disease.
http://psychology.ucdavis.edu/faculty_sites/sommerb/sommerdemo/stat_inf/null.htm
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(Mathematics) : Null Matrixes
A matrix is known as a zero or null matrix if all of its elements are zero.
Click on the picture to link to
the article.
Examples:
etc. are all zero matrices.
Null set
A null set is the same as an "empty set." A null set is a set with no members (or
elements). The symbol for the null set is on the right.
It can also be written as an empty set of set brackets:
{ }
Putting the null set symbol inside the set brackets is a bad thing... But, is a common
mistake, so don't do it!