Comments on: When Geeks Dine Out http://nslog.com/2004/09/30/when_geeks_dine_out The Weblog of Erik J. Barzeski Mon, 08 Sep 2008 02:46:26 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Ahmad http://nslog.com/2004/09/30/when_geeks_dine_out#comment-11533 Ahmad Fri, 30 Sep 2005 23:58:11 +0000 http://nslog.com/2004/09/30/when_geeks_dine_out/#comment-11533 10x-x = 9.99~ - .99~ x(10-1) = .99~ (10-1) x = .99~ ............................ 10x-x = 9.99~ - .99~ 9x = 9 x = 1 ............................ x = 1 x = .99~ .99~ = 1 I hope explaining this way makes it clearer. There are two ways to solve the problem, both giving you "different" answers. You can substitute either into the equation and get the same answer so they must be equal. It is really interesting and confusing. 10x-x = 9.99~ - .99~

x(10-1) = .99~ (10-1)

x = .99~

............................

10x-x = 9.99~ - .99~

9x = 9

x = 1

............................

x = 1

x = .99~

.99~ = 1

I hope explaining this way makes it clearer. There are two ways to solve the problem, both giving you "different" answers. You can substitute either into the equation and get the same answer so they must be equal. It is really interesting and confusing.

]]> By: Elastic Rat http://nslog.com/2004/09/30/when_geeks_dine_out#comment-11534 Elastic Rat Sun, 03 Oct 2004 14:51:59 +0000 http://nslog.com/2004/09/30/when_geeks_dine_out/#comment-11534 <strong>When Geeks Dine Out</strong> When Geeks Dine Out When Geeks Dine Out

When Geeks Dine Out

]]> By: zach http://nslog.com/2004/09/30/when_geeks_dine_out#comment-11532 zach Fri, 01 Oct 2004 18:00:15 +0000 http://nslog.com/2004/09/30/when_geeks_dine_out/#comment-11532 drew == damn sexy drew == damn sexy

]]> By: drew http://nslog.com/2004/09/30/when_geeks_dine_out#comment-11531 drew Fri, 01 Oct 2004 15:25:10 +0000 http://nslog.com/2004/09/30/when_geeks_dine_out/#comment-11531 OK, let's say x = .999… (repeating), so we can easily say 10x = 9.999… , savvy? OK, here's the fun part. We can easily say: 10x - x = ? (9x) So long as we perform the operation on both sides, we can also say: 10x - x = 9.999… - .999… Lo, and behold: 9x = 9, x = 1! OK, let's say x = .999… (repeating), so we can easily say 10x = 9.999… , savvy?

OK, here's the fun part. We can easily say:

10x - x = ? (9x)

So long as we perform the operation on both sides, we can also say:

10x - x = 9.999… - .999…

Lo, and behold:

9x = 9, x = 1!

]]> By: chuckdude http://nslog.com/2004/09/30/when_geeks_dine_out#comment-11530 chuckdude Fri, 01 Oct 2004 14:47:30 +0000 http://nslog.com/2004/09/30/when_geeks_dine_out/#comment-11530 True, but in the real world, you've just confused the piss out of the restauranteur, who's looking at the receipt going, "What the #^%*?! This doesn't add up." $33.33 + $6.66 = $39.99 It doesn't round up, nor does it appear to equal $40. I don't know what funky math class you took back in elementary school, but I'd go back and ask for my milk money back. True, but in the real world, you've just confused the piss out of the restauranteur, who's looking at the receipt going, "What the #^%*?! This doesn't add up."

$33.33 + $6.66 = $39.99

It doesn't round up, nor does it appear to equal $40.

I don't know what funky math class you took back in elementary school, but I'd go back and ask for my milk money back.

]]> By: Matt Thomas http://nslog.com/2004/09/30/when_geeks_dine_out#comment-11529 Matt Thomas Fri, 01 Oct 2004 02:51:01 +0000 http://nslog.com/2004/09/30/when_geeks_dine_out/#comment-11529 Mathematicians generally agree that .9999 repeating to infinity is 1. I had an argument with my roommate about it once because it's a difficult concept to grasp (and even harder to explain). I found this link off of google that I used to help explain it: http://mathforum.org/library/drmath/view/53339.html Mathematicians generally agree that .9999 repeating to infinity is 1. I had an argument with my roommate about it once because it's a difficult concept to grasp (and even harder to explain). I found this link off of google that I used to help explain it: http://mathforum.org/library/drmath/view/53339.html

]]> By: Steve Streza http://nslog.com/2004/09/30/when_geeks_dine_out#comment-11528 Steve Streza Fri, 01 Oct 2004 02:47:07 +0000 http://nslog.com/2004/09/30/when_geeks_dine_out/#comment-11528 I've always wondered... If you take 1/3 and divide it all the way out to infinity, you have .33333...etc. If you add each digit of that together 3 times, all the way out, you get .99999....etc, all the way out to infinity, which doesn't add up to 1, obviously. None of my math teachers have been able to answer it. I've always wondered...

If you take 1/3 and divide it all the way out to infinity, you have .33333...etc. If you add each digit of that together 3 times, all the way out, you get .99999....etc, all the way out to infinity, which doesn't add up to 1, obviously.

None of my math teachers have been able to answer it.

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