Re: A little lesson for sqrt(144) year olds.

From: Mike (eleatis_at_yahoo.gr)
Date: 06/29/04 

Date: 29 Jun 2004 14:19:06 -0700

"Androcles" <androc1es@nospamblueyonder.co.uk> wrote in message news:<NKPDc.4770$uy4.50338910@news-text.cableinet.net>...
> "Dirk Van de moortel" <dirkvandemoortel@ThankS-NO-SperM.hotmail.com> wrote
> in message news:o6yDc.167462$Z%7.8497177@phobos.telenet-ops.be...
> |
> | "Dirk Van de moortel" <dirkvandemoortel@ThankS-NO-SperM.hotmail.com> wrote
> in message news:KDdCc.4526$Yf1.2176@news.cpqcorp.net...
> | > A few posters recently showed having some 'minor'
> | > difficulties with the concept of square roots:
> |
> | [snip]
> |
> | > So we have:
> | > sqrt(x^2) = x for all x >= 0
> | > sqrt(x^2) = -x for all x <= 0
> | >
> | > And we have:
> | > IF x >= 0 THEN sqrt(x^2) = x
> | > IF x <= 0 THEN sqrt(x^2) = -x
> | >
> |
> | For fun, I asked a friend to check how packages like Maple
> | and Mathematica react to an expression like sqrt(x^2).
> | Result:
> | http://users.pandora.be/vdmoortel/dirk/Stuff/SqrtMapMath.gif
> |
> | Dirk Vdm
>
> Let's see if it works then.
> x = sqrt(1).
> What is x?
> Well well...
> If x = 1 then x = 1.
> If x = -1 then x = -1.
>
> Let x = Dinky.
> If Dinky is a moron then Dinky is a moron.
> Does the term "tautology" come to mind?
> This way, x = moron(Dinky) is ALWAYS positive.
>
> Androcles :-)

Dinky <---> moron

Sooner or later the necesity condition is added to demonstrated
sufficiency to result in a glorious equivalence:

Dinky <---> Moron

Very soon I suspect you will see it as a synonym in Word Thesarus.

Mike

Relevant Pages