$n2 is a string value of the number one. What happens if, during a more complex computation an incorrect value is store to $n2, lets say an alphabetic character?
The value would be interpreted as a zero and the result would be wrong.
If you change data, result changes - surprise! If you set $n2 to 42, result would be wrong too, if by right you mean $n2 being 1 and not 42. How it has anything to do with static typing?
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Stanislav Malyshev, Zend Software Architect
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