Math Is Fun Forum

TheTick

Member

Registered: 2012-12-03

Posts: 27

Ok this is bothering me more and more now...

So I asked this question in reply to the "1 paradox reborn" thread, but it was more of a what if, and not a I want to know the answer. However I did not know the answer, and it has started really bothering me.

So now the question,

If we have .99999 recurring (assuming it is not equal to 1) what would .99999 recurring + .33333 recurring be?

I may feel really stupid after hearing the answer, but please explain...

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Spooooon!!!

Agnishom

Real Member

From: Riemann Sphere

Registered: 2011-01-29

Posts: 24,996

Website

Re: Ok this is bothering me more and more now...

First assume that it had finite digits.

E.g,
0.99 + 0.33 = 1.32
0.999 + 0.333 = 1.332
0.99999 + 0.33333 = 1.33332
.
.
.

Now what if it had infinite digits?
0.9999.... + 0.3333.... = 1.333333......2 (i.e, the two comes after infinite 3s)

Now, here comes the logic:
The 2 comes after the end of the chain of 3s.
The chain of 3s has no end.
So, you cannot put the 2.

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'And fun? If maths is fun, then getting a tooth extraction is fun. A viral infection is fun. Rabies shots are fun.'
'God exists because Mathematics is consistent, and the devil exists because we cannot prove it'
I'm not crazy, my mother had me tested.