1.3333.. does NOT equal 4/3!

[Peegee]

like how 0.9999... does NOT equal 1!!!1one

Seriously, I have to sift through one of these 0.999.. posts every week on the warcraft forums. One might ask why I bother with them but it allows me to flamebait and flame people repeatedly for having an inferior understanding of numbers.

Do you think that 0.9999... is a different (smaller) number than 1? If so what is the difference between the two numbers, and how did you find that difference when there should be more 9's?

Remember infinity is not a number.

*shrug*

Somebody help me convince somebody who doesn't understand the difference between a number and a function

[Bunny]

Okay. Why do you try so hard?

[Peegee]

It's fun to question people's beliefs when they are clearly wrong. I also have the same fun asking religious people about their beliefs and showing that (at the very minimum) they are inconsistent.

Help pls.

[Miriel]

Duh, it's called rounding up!

[Vivisteiner]

0.9 recurring (0.999999999999999999999999.....)

Is the same as 1.

0.99999 is not.


Hmmm, although Im a little confused by the point of the topic...

[Little Blue]

I think the topic is based on the fact that 1/3 = 0.3333333333333333333..., implying that 3*1/3 = 0.9999999999999999999... = 1 yet assumes 0.9999999999999999999... is a distinct and seperate number to 1 indicating that 1 =/= 0.9999999999999999999... I, for one, don't know what to do...

If we let 0.9999999999999999999... be an infinitessimally smaller number than 1 (ie, 1-dn where dn is an infinitessimally small number), then let dn tend to 0, 0.9999999999999999999... = 1-0 = 1. If we then say all numbers are seperated by a value dn, we get a result that all numbers equal all other numbers! Does that equal the end of mathematics?

[bipper]

I once read that it has to do with the tens system. That 10 is not to have direct value or some weird . I was stressed, and taking a 3d mathematics course. Maybe it is something to look at. if 10 equaled 9 + .999999 and not 9 + 1, wouldn't life be grand.

[Tavrobel]

I like how people continue to oversimplify the relationship between ratios (4/3) and approximations (1.34). People also employ rounding, to make numbers nicer, and to obey the grand necessity of significant figures (uncertainty).

Somebody help me convince somebody who doesn't understand the difference between a number and a function

Thank you for trying to convince someone who does not have the fundamental base nor the knowledge to be able to intelligently argue, nor to discern proper mathematical terminology. Thank you. Lots. Seriously.

As for the topic, whether I believe that .999... is == 1, is irrelevant. Once you hit limit theory, it doesn't matter, since a function can approach a number without end, but never get there, but it may very well be so close, that you may as well, just finish it off and round it.

If you're going to quarrel about how an approximation, which represents an uncertain definition of a ratio, and whether or not multiple of those will equal whatever number you're trying to get to, I suggest you look over some of those yummy number postulates, such as

A/B = ?
as long as B != 0
and A == B
therefore, A/B = 1.

And some others. To me, I'm all about making life easier on yourself, as long as it's within a reasonable range, depending on the question, percentage of error, but if I view .999... == 1, if the .999 stops, then it is its own number, but since .999... does not end, you can't really make a mature decision about it until it reaches its conclusion.

[oddler]

I agree with the title of the thread.

[Levian]

0,999... is not 1 imho. I don't really care what the truth is.

[Nominus Experse]

0.999999999999 is not 1.
0.999999999999... may as well smurfing be 1.

If you need to carry the repeating 9 out a billion places to ensure that errors do not occur in equipment or tests, than do so. But for all practical purposes, we ought to view it as simply 1.

This how I view it, and I will be the first to tell you I am not gifted in mathematics. But from what I would call a logical, practical standpoint, I think my statement is true.

[bipper]

.aaaaaaaa.... is b. shut up.

I still don't get it. Why have an infinity? Infinity is just for people to lazy to count out the number. Slackers.

[Ouch!]

.aaaaaaaa.... is b. shut up.

I still don't get it. Why have an infinity? Infinity is just for people to lazy to count out the number. Slackers.

Try to divide 1 by 3 using long division. It never ends. That's why.

[Jessweeee♪]

Math is fun n.n

I'm only in geometry right now, though. I do believe that .333... is equal to 1/3 and .6666... is equal to 2/3; etc.

While we're on the subject of math, what does any number with an exponent of zero equal one instead of zero or that same number?

[bipper]

.aaaaaaaa.... is b. shut up.

I still don't get it. Why have an infinity? Infinity is just for people to lazy to count out the number. Slackers.

Try to divide 1 by 3 using long division. It never ends. That's why.

Or does it? I accuse you of lazyness