Math Problem

[cpt_azad]

don't call me a n00b (i was never good at math). but it seems that i have no idea or recollection of this type of question:

|-6| or |2-4| and even |1/2-3/4| . wtf are these | line things there for (no they are not brackets, just straight lines)? please help me out! i just need to know what the answer is and how to solve the question/problem (solution, formula, etc.). from what i can assertain, it's some sort of LCM type problem (lowest common multiple?). so please, help a dumass out :frusty:

[h1]

To me, it's Math.abs(int). :D

To you, it's absolute value, which strips any negativity from the number. Absolute value gets evaluated only after everything inside it already is.

[kAb]

they are absolute value. it means basically always positive
|x| cannot equal -6

but |x| can equal 6

the absolute value of |2-4| is 2 because it must be positive.

[cpt_azad]

so |2| would equal -2?

[4th gen]

Originally posted by cpt_azad@8 February 2004 - 02:56
so |2| would equal -2?
no, |-2| = 2

[cpt_azad]

wait, here:

- |-2/3| would equal 2/3?
- |-1|+|3| ??
- |5|-|-2| ??
- |-3|-|-4| ??
- |1.2-1.5| would equal 1.2?
- |4| ??
- |1/2-3/4| would equal 1/2??
- |-6| would equal 6??

also, how do graph these kind of numbers on number lines? do you treat them as normal numbers and substitute negative ones for postivies?:

how would you graph the following on ONE number line:

|-1| |2| |square root of 5| |square root of -3| (last i heard, you can't square root negative numbers, right?) i'm so confused, thanks for the help kAB, i kinda (kinda as in 3%) understand it now, i think.

[cpt_azad]

Originally posted by 4th gen+7 February 2004 - 19:57--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (4th gen @ 7 February 2004 - 19:57)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-cpt_azad@8 February 2004 - 02:56
so |2| would equal -2?
no, |-2| = 2 [/b][/quote]
so what would |2| be? 2?

[h1]

Originally posted by cpt_azad@7 February 2004 - 23:01
wait, here:

- |-2/3| would equal 2/3?
- |-1|+|3| ??
- |5|-|-2| ??
- |-3|-|-4| ??
- |1.2-1.5| would equal 1.2?
- |4| ??
- |1/2-3/4| would equal 1/2??
- |-6| would equal 6??

also, how do graph these kind of numbers on number lines? do you treat them as normal numbers and substitute negative ones for postivies?:

how would you graph the following on ONE number line:

|-1| |2| |square root of 5| |square root of -3| (last i heard, you can&#39;t square root negative numbers, right?) i&#39;m so confused, thanks for the help kAB, i kinda (kinda as in 3%) understand it now, i think.
Just evaluate whatever&#39;s inside the lines and make it positive.

So your answers would be: 0.6 &reg;
4
3
-1
0.3
4
0.25
6
All of the following are inclusive: 1
2
sqrt(5)
3i
Square roots of negative numbers are represented on the imaginary plane, not the Cartesian plane. :)

[cpt_azad]

:frusty: bumP?

[cpt_azad]

Originally posted by haxor41789+7 February 2004 - 20:08--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (haxor41789 @ 7 February 2004 - 20:08)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-cpt_azad@7 February 2004 - 23:01
wait, here:

-&nbsp; |-2/3| would equal 2/3?
-&nbsp; |-1|+|3| ??
-&nbsp; |5|-|-2| ??
-&nbsp; |-3|-|-4| ??
-&nbsp; |1.2-1.5| would equal 1.2?
-&nbsp; |4| ??
-&nbsp; |1/2-3/4| would equal 1/2??
-&nbsp; |-6| would equal 6??

also, how do graph these kind of numbers on number lines? do you treat them as normal numbers and substitute negative ones for postivies?:

how would you graph the following on ONE number line:

|-1|&nbsp; |2|&nbsp; |square root of 5|&nbsp; |square root of -3| (last i heard, you can&#39;t square root negative numbers, right?)&nbsp; i&#39;m so confused, thanks for the help kAB, i kinda (kinda as in 3%) understand it now, i think.
Just evaluate whatever&#39;s inside the lines and make it positive.

So your answers would be: 0.6 ®
4
3
-1
0.3
4
0.25
6
All of the following are inclusive: 1
2
sqrt(5)
3i
Square roots of negative numbers are represented on the imaginary plane, not the Cartesian plane. :) [/b][/quote]
thanks man&#33; really needed that&#33; i think i get it now (negative square roots being irrational)

[h1]

Originally posted by cpt_azad@7 February 2004 - 23:11
thanks man&#33; really needed that&#33; i think i get it now (negative square roots being irrational)
Negative square roots are not irrational, they are imaginary. Irrational numbers are those that cannot be represented as a fraction.

[vivitron 15]

a fraction of integers one would hope - else sqrt(2) = sqrt(2)/1 would make sqrt(2) rational ;)


go i love being pedantic :P :)

[fugley]

I don&#39;t know exactly how I know this but I think the answer = 3.

Though it might be wisest to check out my hypoprosfecies via another mechanism / apparatus before committing it to print.



:blink:

[kAb]

Originally posted by fugley@8 February 2004 - 11:53
I don&#39;t know exactly how I know this but I think the answer = 3.

Though it might be wisest to check out my hypoprosfecies via another mechanism / apparatus before committing it to print.



:blink:
its actually 42 :)

[DWk]

Come on now. The absolute value doesn&#39;t "take the negativity" out of a number.

Absolute value is the distance from a number to the origin. That&#39;s why |-3| = 3, because the distance from -3 to 0 (the origin in our decimal system) is 3. As well, |3| = 3 because it goes from 3 to 0.

-·--·---·--·--·--|--·--·--·--·---·-
-5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5

hope that was clear :)


EDIT - Forgot the answers

- |-2/3| = 2/3
- |-1|+|3| = 1+3 = 4
- |5|-|-2| = 5-2 = 3
- |-3|-|-4| = 3-4 = -1
- |1.2-1.5| = |-0.3| = 0.3
- |4| = 4
- |1/2-3/4| = |2/4 - 3/4| = |-1/4| = 1/4
- |-6| = 6

[DWk]

Originally posted by haxor41789+7 February 2004 - 21:17--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (haxor41789 &#064; 7 February 2004 - 21:17)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-cpt_azad@7 February 2004 - 23:11
thanks man&#33; really needed that&#33; i think i get it now (negative square roots being irrational)
Negative square roots are not irrational, they are imaginary. Irrational numbers are those that cannot be represented as a fraction. [/b][/quote]
Yeps:

sqrt(-1) = 1i = imaginary number
1/sqrt(x) = irrational number... has to be multiplied by its conjugate ;)

By the way, regarding Abs. value... go here (http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/0,,sid9_gci817829,00.html)

[vivitron 15]

1/sqrt(1/4) = 2 = real, rational

so "1/sqrt(x) = irrational number... has to be multiplied by its conjugate" isnt true :)

[cpt_azad]

Originally posted by vivitron 15@8 February 2004 - 15:30
1/sqrt(1/4) = 2 = real, rational

so "1/sqrt(x) = irrational number... has to be multiplied by its conjugate" isnt true :)
:o . i understand what dwk is saying, but wtf does this mean:


1/sqrt(1/4) = 2 = real, rational

so "1/sqrt(x) = irrational number