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Off Topic => Test/Spam Forum => Forum Games => Topic started by: CK9 on April 18, 2011, 12:46:01 PM

Title: Math Riddle
Post by: CK9 on April 18, 2011, 12:46:01 PM
I'm sure i've shown how to do this here before, so if you've seen the answer from me, please leave it for others to figgure out.


I can prove inequalities to be equal, that is to say, things that shouldn't add up to a certain number do.  Can you prove how:

2 + 2 = 3 ?

and

2 + 1 = 1 ?
Title: Math Riddle
Post by: jcj94 on April 18, 2011, 05:32:04 PM
Powers of two?  2^0 + 2^1 = 1 + 2= 3

For the second.. I don't know :/
Title: Math Riddle
Post by: Hidiot on April 18, 2011, 07:45:38 PM
We define a system with the domain of all integers and a new operation (named # for the purpose of this proof), the function being: a # b = 2 - a + b.

plug in 2 and 1, and you get 2 # 1 = 2 - 2 + 1 = 1. By abuse of notation, we can rename # as + in our new system, so 2 + 1 = 1.

The whole point of our new system and operation is for 2 to be the neutral element in regard to the operation.

Edit: I took a closer look at this and realized that 2 is not a neutral element for this operation. This operation just happens to work.
Title: Math Riddle
Post by: Hooman on April 19, 2011, 04:35:16 AM
Hmm, I rather enjoy that answer Hidiot. Nice terminology.


Although, I should probably object to the "prove" part of the original question. Such "proofs" generally contain a hidden logical flaw that most people have trouble picking out. Like how squaring and square roots aren't perfect inverse operations.

As an example, sqrt((-1)^2) = 1  (not -1, as it would be if they were inverse operations).

You can probably use that fact in a creative way to make something appear to be like a proof. I can't bring myself to do it though.
 
Title: Math Riddle
Post by: jcj94 on April 19, 2011, 01:08:59 PM
I honestly thought I was on to something... :(
Welp, yay for new math concepts.
Title: Math Riddle
Post by: CK9 on April 19, 2011, 04:52:00 PM
no one has done it the way I'm thinking so far

Though, that is a very well thought out answer Hidiot

I'll give you all a hint:

in context of it's normal everyday use, this makes perfect sense.  Out of context, as it is presented here, it will make no sense at all.
Title: Math Riddle
Post by: Freeza-CII on April 19, 2011, 05:06:22 PM
first I need to harness the power of anti gravity particles. Then i need to use them on a black hole. then i need to fly my long skinny ship into the black hole. hopefully emerge on the other side where every thing is different and i die a horrible death maybe. but then just then in the nano seconds before my death 2+2 would equal 3 with out any sort of trick or mathmatical know how.
Title: Math Riddle
Post by: evecolonycamander on April 19, 2011, 05:06:59 PM
I see how it is possible if you merely replace the numbers with a variable such as X. so:
2 + 2 = 3 ?
Is
X + X = 3 ?

AND

2 + 1 = 1 ?
Is
X + Y = 1 ?

X= 1.5
Y= -0.5
Title: Math Riddle
Post by: CK9 on April 19, 2011, 10:33:52 PM
no...that is just an invalid argument...that's like saying "I'm replacing the elephant with a quarter, so yea, the elephant fits in my pocket"
Title: Math Riddle
Post by: jcj94 on April 20, 2011, 10:35:40 AM
Quote
"I'm replacing the elephant with a quarter, so yea, the elephant fits in my pocket"
Thats just the way ECC works.

I brought this problem up in first one day and yeah, the way Hidiot showed us was what we used.
 
Title: Math Riddle
Post by: CK9 on April 20, 2011, 12:24:46 PM
One more hint before I end up giving the answers:

while it is a math problem, it isn't a direct math problem.  Think about the applications of math in other areas.
Title: Math Riddle
Post by: Hidiot on April 20, 2011, 01:00:33 PM
Thinking graphically (as in, the shapes of the numbers):
Take a 2 and invert it by its base. Now overlap the base of the inverted 2 with the base of the standard 2, and you get a shape that looks almost like a 3. You'd need to remove the line to get an actual 3.

Also, 2 H + 1 O =1 H2O.
Title: Math Riddle
Post by: CK9 on April 20, 2011, 05:23:32 PM
Hidiot got the second one semi-correct, lol (my fault though, I wasn't thinking empiricly when I was typing, heh)
Title: Math Riddle
Post by: jcj94 on April 22, 2011, 05:12:07 PM
I give, I don't know about you guys though.. PM me the answer?  I promise I wont post it :P
Title: Math Riddle
Post by: CK9 on April 22, 2011, 05:37:08 PM
I'll just post it.  It has to do with groups of different objects.

For example:

An apple and an orange is a group of two DIFFERENT fruits.  An apple and a pear is another group of two DIFFERENT fruits.  If we add these together, we end up with a group of three DIFFERENT fruits.  Thus, in this example with its context, 2 + 2 = 3
Title: Math Riddle
Post by: jcj94 on April 22, 2011, 07:42:06 PM
Oh, darn.  That.. wow.  I was over thinking that A LOT...
Title: Math Riddle
Post by: Hooman on April 22, 2011, 07:46:17 PM
Sounds like Hidiot was on to something when he said redefine the "+" symbol to be a different operator.

You're talking about cardinality and set union.
A + B
|A U B|

Mind you, trying to fit that into an equality still doesn't quite work without some serious abuse of notation. You would need to use the same symbol to represent both a set, and the cardinality of that set.
 
Title: Math Riddle
Post by: CK9 on April 22, 2011, 08:20:06 PM
no, I'm just talking about adding things together :P

In all seriousness, though, it's just ment to make people think.  Rather than accept that something is true, find out why it is true.