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

From: Randy Poe (poespam-trap_at_yahoo.com)
Date: 07/06/04 

Date: 6 Jul 2004 07:51:36 -0700

"Dirk Van de moortel" <dirkvandemoortel@ThankS-NO-SperM.hotmail.com> wrote in message news:<cRtGc.5335$tl.3354@news.cpqcorp.net>...
> "Randy Poe" <poespam-trap@yahoo.com> wrote in message news:df76407e.0407052137.5f8d2992@posting.google.com...
> > "Androcles" <androc1es@nospamblueyonder.co.uk> wrote in message news:<x5jGc.331$rk4.5112897@news-text.cableinet.net>...
> > > "The Ghost In The Machine" <ewill@aurigae.athghost7038suus.net> wrote in
> > > message news:rmjor1-8ip.ln1@lexi2.athghost7038suus.net...
>
> > > | Carefully taking square roots, one gets:
> > > |
> > > | x + b/(2a) = +/- sqrt(b^2 - 4ac) / (2a)
> > > |
> > > | and the formula follows.
> > >
> > > Goodness me! I'm told sqrt is always positive by Dinky the Deranged.
> > > Where did the minus sign in front of it come from?
> >
> > The minus sign is the thing you put in front of a positive
> > value to get a negative value.
> >
> > Thus, x+ b/(2a) can be either sqrt(b^2 - 4ac) / (2a) or its
> > additive inverse, -sqrt(b^2 - 4ac) / (2a). In both cases,
> > the sqrt represents a negative quantity.
>
> [typo: negative ==> positive]
> He will love it - if he notices ;-)

Aargh.

    Must stop posting after midnight.
    Must stop posting after midnight.
    Must stop posting after midnight.

Relevant Pages