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1=2

1=2

Posers and Puzzles

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I guess one could probably find this somewhere on the internet; but, can anyone tell me why this is incorrect:

-20=-20
16-36=-20
25-45=-20
16-36=25-45
16-36+(81/4)=25-45+(81/4)
(4-(9/2))^2=(5-(9/2))^2 (factoring, I think)
4-(9/2)=5-(9/2)
4=5
1=2 (subtracting 3 from each side)

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Originally posted by Cheshire Cat
I guess one could probably find this somewhere on the internet; but, can anyone tell me why this is incorrect:

-20=-20
16-36=-20
25-45=-20
16-36=25-45
16-36+(81/4)=25-45+(81/4)
(4-(9/2))^2=(5-(9/2))^2 (factoring, I think)
4-(9/2)=5-(9/2)
4=5
1=2 (subtracting 3 from each side)
You are taking the negative root of the expression on the left and the positive root of the expression on the right.

Another example:
(-2)^2 = 4
(2)^2 = 4
(-2)^2 = (2)^2
-2 = 2

1 edit
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Originally posted by richjohnson
You are taking the negative root of the expression on the left and the positive root of the expression on the right.

Another example:
(-2)^2 = 4
(2)^2 = 4
(-2)^2 = (2)^2
-2 = 2
I see. Does that mean that the correct answer would be something like 2i=2?

1 edit
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No.

(-2)^2 = 2^2=4

All this is an indication of is the fact that every positive real number has two real square roots.

(2i)^2 = -4

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Originally posted by royalchicken
No.

(-2)^2 = 2^2=4

All this is an indication of is the fact that every positive real number has two real square roots.

(2i)^2 = -4
Right....does that also apply to the first equation?

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(4-(9/2))^2=(-0.5)^2

(5-(9/2))^2=(0.5)^2

As richjohnson said, you can't make the negative and positive roots equivalent.

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Originally posted by royalchicken
(4-(9/2))^2=(-0.5)^2

(5-(9/2))^2=(0.5)^2

As richjohnson said, you can't make the negative and positive roots equivalent.
Hmmm. I'll have to look at that one some more. How about this one:

x=.999999999....repeating 9s
10x=9.999999....repeating 9s

Using systems I think:

~~~~10x=9.999....~~~
~~~~~-x=.9999....~~~
---------------------------

~~~~~9x=9~~~~~~~~

x=1
x=.99999....

1=.999999......

Hope that is understandable.

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Originally posted by Cheshire Cat
Hmmm. I'll have to look at that one some more. How about this one:

x=.999999999....repeating 9s
10x=9.999999....repeating 9s

Using systems I think:

~~~~10x=9.999....~~~
~~~~~-x=.9999....~~~
---------------------------

~~~~~9x=9~~~~~~~~

x=1
x=.99999....

1=.999999......

Hope that is understandable.
That's fine, since 1 = 0.9 rec. There's another thread on this in this forum. Good job, though.

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Originally posted by royalchicken
That's fine, since 1 = 0.9 rec. There's another thread on this in this forum. Good job, though.
Why does this work though? Obviously they are two different numbers. And what is your abbreviation rec.?

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Originally posted by Cheshire Cat
Why does this work though? Obviously they are two different numbers. And what is your abbreviation rec.?
They are actually the same number (rec = "recurring&quot😉.

Incidentally, the series S=(1/2 + 1/4 + 1/8 + 1/16 + ...) is also equal to one.

Why?

2S=(1 + 1/2 + 1/4 + 1/8 + 1/16 + ...)

2S-S=1

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Originally posted by Cheshire Cat
Why does this work though? Obviously they are two different numbers. And what is your abbreviation rec.?
Yeah, sorry. 09. rec is shorthand for 0.999999999999999999...........

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Originally posted by richjohnson
They are actually the same number (rec = "recurring"😉.

Incidentally, the series S=(1/2 + 1/4 + 1/8 + 1/16 + ...) is also equal to one.

Why?

2S=(1 + 1/2 + 1/4 + 1/8 + 1/16 + ...)

2S-S=1
That's all well and good, but the question is why do they work.

1 edit
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-20=-20
16-36=-20
25-45=-20
16-36=25-45
16-36+(81/4)=25-45+(81/4)
(4-(9/2))^2=(5-(9/2))^2 (factoring, I think)
4-(9/2)=5-(9/2)
4=5
1=2 (subtracting 3 from each side)


the first problem works due, as RichJohnson said, because all positive real numbers have two roots both the negative and the positive. Therefore, if you take 2^2 and -2^2 you will get 4 for both. The reason this works is because the eqaution, although, mathematically correct is not balanced correctly. (Or, atleast thats what my maths teacher would say as I messed up a question, in a paper, because I did just this and got the wrong answer🙂)

Hmmm. I'll have to look at that one some more. How about this one:

x=.999999999....repeating 9s
10x=9.999999....repeating 9s

Using systems I think:

~~~~10x=9.999....~~~
~~~~~-x=.9999....~~~
---------------------------

~~~~~9x=9~~~~~~~~

x=1
x=.99999....

1=.999999......

Hope that is understandable.


the second was explained to me but I can't for the life of me remember. I'll ask some people and see if they can tell me.

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Originally posted by jimmi t
[b]-20=-20
16-36=-20
25-45=-20
16-36=25-45
16-36+(81/4)=25-45+(81/4)
(4-(9/2))^2=(5-(9/2))^2 (factoring, I think)
4-(9/2)=5-(9/2)
4=5
1=2 (subtracting 3 from each side)


the first problem works due, as RichJohnson said, because all positive real numbers have two roots both the negative and the positive. Therefore, if you take 2^2 and -2 ...[text shortened]... me but I can't for the life of me remember. I'll ask some people and see if they can tell me.[/b]
Cool, thanks.

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One canalso think asfollows

1/9 = 0.11111111111111111111...
2/9 = 0.22222222222222222222...
3/9 = 0.333333333333333333...
:
:
9/9 = 0.999999999999999999...