33 replies to this topic

[Velotix von Skruviktorrius]

Here's an anecdote from when I was 9.

I'd done my work and was fiddling around with a calculator, as you do, and stumbled on the decimal representation of a third, 0.333..., by dividing 1 by 3. I then multiplied it by 3, expecting to see a "1" again.

I got 0.99999999... - in other words, an infinite string of 9s.

I pointed this out to my (substitute) teacher, and said "3/3 must be ever so slightly smaller than 1" and the teacher seemed to agree with me, having apparently never had this pointed out to them before.

I now wish to slap that teacher in the face, although given their grey hair at the time and this being 15 years ago they're probably retired by now.

0.999... = 1 - I just proved it above. There is no "tiny missing piece" that is lost. There can't be, or the infinite string of 9s would be finite, and end somewhere. :)

And here's the most famous proof:


...and even the troll can't believe it. Indeed it looks like a mistake was made somewhere, but no - the logic is flawless.

So, today you learned that there's another way to write the number 1. Confused? Don't worry, even degree level math students struggle with this one. The point that everyone gets caught out on is the same one that I got caught out on at 9: even when a string of numbers is infinitely long, you still expect it to end somewhere. Infinity doesn't end for anything, even a human's limited perception of reality. :3
 

This thread is the general SSMB Math thread. Whether you need help with your Math or just feel like blowing people's minds with mathematical craziness, this is the thread for you!

[Burnt Ash]

Oh yes this is true (I think). A friend told me this some time ago. 0.99999 = 1/3. 1/3 * 3 = 1. So, 0.99999 = 1

Edited by thebluehedgehog, 19 March 2012 - 11:46 PM.

[Shigeru Miyamoto]

Math can be fun sometimes.

Most of the time, I despise it, however. It could just be school, though.

[BW199148]

I fucking hate maths, so yeah I'll probably stay out of this thread.

[Solkia]

OH GOD, LEARNING

GET IT AWAY FROM ME.

[Velotix von Skruviktorrius]

The problem with Mathematics in school is not Math itself - it's the way it's taught. Only a certain set of individuals understand Math intuitively and the teaching technique only caters to those individuals who understand the concepts with minimal effort, ignoring everyone else who needs to wrap their head around the concepts from another angle.

Note that that's not even really teaching - that's just spewing facts at people and ignoring anyone who doesn't instantly understand it. I'd actually argue that Math isn't taught in schools at all - they just hire people to fling disjointed factoids at you and expect you to pick up the pieces. Math is an inherently abstract subject, but most people just don't think in an abstract manner - they think in terms of what they've experienced in life instead.

I could rant about the crappy state of Maths in schools all day...

[Burnt Ash]

I actually like math. Doing Algebra II, and so far, it's my best subject in school. Calculus scares me for some reason though.

[Noivern]

I don't care for math really for dealing with facts because I find that boring.

But for some ungodly reason calculus is a goddamn blast.



That's all.

[Nepenthe]

I had a topic in my college math class last quarter that basically uses the first specific proof for 0.9999 = 1 as a way to do other similar problems. It involved finding the missing variable for ratios and things... yeah, I'm obviously not a stickler for math. The point is! Doing it myself didn't result in much of a mind fuck once the teacher explained it. I also find it quite the coincidence that I'm still seeing this stuff.

[Burnt Ash]

Well, currently, we're learning of the decomposition of fractions, which is in out matrices (a real big pain to do) unit. Oddly, we do matrices for a month, and we only did logs for eight days.

[Swiss]

I managed to type '8008135' on a calculator once.

Spoiler

Boobies. I was what, 5?

Edited by Swiss, 20 March 2012 - 12:10 AM.

[Scar]

Calculus up until high school is relatively easy. Well at least in the standard UK A-level syllabus.
Shit like conics, hyperbolics and polar co-ordinates can fuck you up, especially when you have to differentiate/integrate them. Seriously, trying to teach yourself hyperbolics and polar co-ordinates is a massive bitch. So, so, so, so very hard.

But other than that, I enjoy maths. Its a wonderfully logical, yet abstract subject that literally describes almost all natural phenomina (the obvious exception being "life"). Its brilliant and really very interesting.

Well, currently, we're learning of the decomposition of fractions, which is in out matrices (a real big pain to do) unit. Oddly, we do matrices for a month, and we only did logs for eight days.

Logs aren't difficult though. They're pitifully easy these days with calculators. I pity those from the past who needed to use the infamous "log tables" to do calculations .
Matrices aren't that hard, more annoying and very, very long and boring.

[Burnt Ash]

Matrices are just tedious. For example, my math teacher once had to do a five by six matrix at our community college once, and the problem took up three boards. Then at the end, he realized he got the problem wrong and dismissed the students.

[Scar]

Matrices are just tedious. For example, my math teacher once had to do a five by six matrix at our community college once, and the problem took up three boards. Then at the end, he realized he got the problem wrong and dismissed the students.

What a mug. Matrices larger than 3x3 are a bitch to do by hand.

[krazystitch]

I actually like Math, I think it's an easy enough topic, especially with the fact that there's always a definite answer that you just need to follow certain steps and formulas for. It's simple and easy to get done, just so long as you know what you're doing.

The only thing I truly hate is graphing, though. That's something I find so very tedious and annoying >_>

[Burnt Ash]

What a mug. Matrices larger than 3x3 are a bitch to do by hand.

And that's why I appreciate graphing calculators so much.

But seriously though, I'm doing Trig/AP Calc A next year, and I have no idea what to expect. Is Calc hard?

Oh, and here's a real annoying one. Doing a system of equations, Cramer's Rule way, and then realizing the answer is No Solution/Infinite amount of solutions.

[Sega DogTagz]

Ha. I remember that .9999..... proof. I think my Trigonometry teacher showed us that in our first day of class back in high school. Something about getting our heads in the right place to do some real math.


I aced calculus my first year of University, so I've been exempt from taking any more math for the rest of my scholastic career. I'm not as on top of my math game as I used to be.

To be honest, most subjects devolve into math anyway.

[Burnt Ash]

To be honest, most subjects devolve into math anyway.

Like physics or chemistry, for example.

[krazystitch]

Like physics or chemistry, for example.

That's true, you use a lot of equations to find certain measurements even in classes like Chemistry. It's usually not anything major, but nonetheless, it's still present. It pretty much just shows how important it really is to many different types of people who do many different types of things.

[Burnt Ash]

That's true, you use a lot of equations to find certain measurements even in classes like Chemistry. It's usually not anything major, but nonetheless, it's still present. It pretty much just shows how important it really is to many different types of people who do many different types of things.

Yeah, it is important for video game programming as well. Rotations involve trigonometry, and slopes and whatnot require motion physics, which by extension, requires math.