Monday, August 10, 2009

The infinitly interesting interests of infinity.

Everyone seems to know that crazy little sideways eight we all call "infinity" if not it looks like this:

So what about it?

Its flaws:

1) how can 1 number represent every other number?

2) if ∞ does equal every number such as 1, 2, 3, .... then 1*0, 2*0, 3*0.... = 0 yet ∞*0 = ∞ (See August Brain Buster and its solution)

3) ∞/∞ Should = 1, but in reality it could equal any number so it equals ∞

4) Basically ∞ seems to break all of the rules in mathematics, so it seems to be a bad choice for a number.

The Good:

1) Although a major pain to work with in any equation, it can be used quite well in limit problems.

2) It's a concept that is very interesting to think about, but can never actually be reached on a number line.

Any More?
Email
MrMathematic@gmail.com to see it on the list.

Sunday, August 9, 2009

Did YOU know that....

  1. =3.14159 26535 89793 23846 26433 83279 50288 41971 69399 37510 58209 74944 59230 78164 06286 20899 86280 34825 34211 70679 82148 08651 32823 ...
  2. A sphere has two sides. However, there are one-sided surfaces.
  3. There are shapes of constant width other than the circle. One can even drill square holes.
  4. There are just five regular polyhedra
  5. In a group of 23 people, at least two have the same birthday with the probability greater than 1/2
  6. Everything you can do with a ruler and a compass you can do with the compass alone
  7. Among all shapes with the same perimeter a circle has the largest area.
  8. There are curves that fill a plane without holes
  9. Much as with people, there are irrational, perfect, complex numbers
  10. As in philosophy, there are transcendental numbers
  11. As in the art, there are imaginary and surreal numbers
  12. A straight line has dimension 1, a plane - 2. Fractals have mostly fractional dimension
  13. You are wrong if you think Mathematics is not fun
  14. Mathematics studies neighborhoods, groups and free groups, rings, ideals, holes, polesremovable poles, trees, growth ... and
  15. Mathematics also studies models, shapes, curves, cardinals, similarity, consistency, completeness, space ...
  16. Among objects of mathematical study are heredity, continuity, jumps, infinity, infinitesimals, paradoxes...
  17. Last but not the least, Mathematics studies stability, projections and values, values are often absolute but may also be extreme, local or global.
  18. Trigonometry aside, Mathematics comprises fields like Game Theory, Braids Theory, Knot Theory and more
  19. One is morally obligated not to do anything impossible
  20. Some numbers are square, yet others are triangular
  21. The next sentence is true but you must not believe it
  22. The previous sentence was false
  23. 12+3-4+5+67+8+9=100 and there exists at least one other representation of 100 with 9 digits in the right order and math operations in between
  24. One can cut a pie into 8 pieces with three movements
  25. Program=Algorithms+Data Structures
  26. There is something the dead eat but if the living eat it, they die.
  27. A clock never showing right time might be preferable to the one showing right time twice a day
  28. Among all shapes with the same area circle has the shortest perimeter

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Funny Math (1=2) Brain teaser

Let's say that a = a

So it's obvious that a*a = a*a

And a^2 - a^2 = a^2 - a^2

Difference in Squares says that a(a - a) = (a-a)*(a+a)
Divide by (a-a)

And you get a = a+a

Which means the same as a = 2a
Divide both sides by a

And 1 = 2

Tada!

Do you see the problem?
Email your answer to MrMathematic@gmail.com

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