Re: Uncertainty in mathematics

From: Brian Quincy Hutchings (QncyMI_at_netscape.net)
Date: 06/28/04 

Date: 28 Jun 2004 10:46:14 -0700

whether a "decimal" fraction repeats,
depends upon the base of numbering;
in base-3, 1/3 is 1/10, or 0.1 "exactly,"
truncating the tail of zeroes ... which is also the same
as 0.02222..., because that is how "decimals" were defined
in Stevin's pamphlett, with that one exception
(in the 15th cce, I think; see Oystein Ore,
_Number Theory and Its History_ .-)
    the mere formalism is that one means "exactly,
when one truncates the infinite tail of zeroes.
 
also, try configuring base-1.

Eckard Blumschein <blumschein@et.uni-magdeburg.de> wrote in message news:<40DBDB24.2050908@et.uni-magdeburg.de>...
 
> somewhat cheaky impression that numerical analysis is a better education
 
> I consider 1/3 an instruction rather than an explicit number. What about
> the usual result: 0. 3 overbar, it is not more or less mathematically
> existent but fictitious with respect to practic than any other rational,
> provided the used numbers 1 and 3 did not already include uncertainty.
 
--ils duces d'Enron!
http://tarpley.net/bush8.htm

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