Math Is Fun Forum

Identity

Member

Registered: 2007-04-18

Posts: 934

A truly brilliant discovery

I have a truly brilliant proof for this following theorem, but unfortunately after its adventure in the washing machine it is no longer legible.

The theorem is as follows:

Given three functions h(x), f(x), and g(x) which are defined for all x,

A general solution can be given by the General Formula for the Solution of Inequalities (GFSI):

My amazing discovery allows you to solve even the most complex of mathematical problems.

Take for instance, the following inequality:

I bet your calculator couldn't even solve that one, but using my special theorem, the answer follows immediately!

(Sorry that wasn't really a joke, but I could find a no more suitable place to place it)

Seriously though, if you are given any school inequality problem where the answer is:

for the maximum possible a and the minimum possible b, couldn't you simply replace a with anything below it and b with anything above it with no worries? All you would have to concede is that it is fuzzier estimate

JohnnyReinB

Member

Registered: 2007-10-08

Posts: 453

Re: A truly brilliant discovery

yeah, but in math, the better the estimate, the more corect the answer, right?

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"There is not a difference between an in-law and an outlaw, except maybe that an outlaw is wanted"

Nisi Quam Primum, Nequequam

mathsyperson

Moderator

Registered: 2005-06-22

Posts: 4,900

Re: A truly brilliant discovery

But that would give you wrong answers.

eg. Solve the inequality 2<x<9.

The answer is 2<x<9.
But by your theorem, you could extend that to, say, -3<x<17. But then that would mean that x=13 was a solution, but it clearly isn't.

What you can do is raise a or lower b (as long as a≤b).
So, giving 4<x<6.5 would be a correct, but less useful, answer.

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Why did the vector cross the road?
It wanted to be normal.

JaneFairfax

Member

Registered: 2007-02-23

Posts: 6,868

Re: A truly brilliant discovery

It depends on which of the following questions you want to answer.

I think Identity’s formula is designed to answer question (ii) rather than question (i). In this case, it is NOT a general solution, only an existential one.

Thus, if 2 < x < 9 and S = {x: −∞ < x < ∞}, then (ii) is true, though (i) isn’t. (On the other hand, if S = {x: 4 < x < 6.5}, then both (i) and (ii) are true.)

Even so, Identity’s “discovery” won’t solve all possible problems. For example, what if 9 < x < 2? There is no solution at all, so even S = {x: −∞ < x < ∞} fails. (There is no S that can make (ii) true; as for (i), it can only be true if S = Ø.)

I’m sorry to say this, Identitiy, but your discovery is flawed.

Last edited by JaneFairfax (2007-11-11 05:24:00)

Jai Ganesh

Administrator

Registered: 2005-06-28

Posts: 48,395

Re: A truly brilliant discovery

What is this thread doing in 'Jokes' Section?
This merits being posted in Euler Avenue!!!

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It appears to me that if one wants to make progress in mathematics, one should study the masters and not the pupils. - Niels Henrik Abel.

Nothing is better than reading and gaining more and more knowledge - Stephen William Hawking.

Identity

Member

Registered: 2007-04-18

Posts: 934

Re: A truly brilliant discovery

What is this thread doing in 'Jokes' Section?
This merits being posted in Euler Avenue!!!

I couldn't decide if it should be an incredibly bad joke which someone might take notice of or a question which is incredibly ridiculous. I decided on posting it as an incredibly bad joke.