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I just cited myself. (mander.xyz)

submitted 5 days ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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[–] someacnt_ 13 points 5 days ago (28 children)

Are we still doing this 0.999.. thing? Why, is it that attractive?

[–] [email protected] 9 points 5 days ago (25 children)

The rules of decimal notation don't sipport infinite decimals properly. In order for a 9 to roll over into a 10, the next smallest decimal needs to roll over first, therefore an infinite string of anything will never resolve the needed discrete increment.

Thus, all arguments that 0.999... = 1 must use algebra, limits, or some other logic beyond decimal notation. I consider this a bug with decimals, and 0.999... = 1 to be a workaround.

[–] pyre 6 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago) (12 children)

i don't think any number system can be safe from infinite digits. there's bound to be some number for each one that has to be represented with them. it's not intuitive, but that's because infinity isn't intuitive. that doesn't mean there's a problem there though. also the arguments are so simple i don't understand why anyone would insist that there has to be a difference.

for me the simplest is:

1/3 = 0.333...

3×0.333... = 3×1/3

0.999... = 3/3

[–] [email protected] 2 points 4 days ago (1 children)

the problem is it makes my brain hurt

[–] pyre 2 points 4 days ago (1 children)

honestly that seems to be the only argument from the people who say it's not equal. at least you're honest about it.

by the way I'm not a mathematically adept person. I'm interested in math but i only understand the simpler things. which is fine. but i don't go around arguing with people about advanced mathematics because I personally don't get it.

the only reason I'm very confident about this issue is that you can see it's equal with middle- or high-school level math, and that's somehow still too much for people who are too confident about there being a magical, infinitely small number between 0.999... and 1.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 4 days ago (1 children)

to be clear I'm not arguing against you or disagreeing the fraction thing demonstrates what you're saying. It just really bothers me when I think about it like my brain will not accept it even though it's right in front of me it's almost like a physical sensation. I think that's what cognitive dissonance is. Fortunately in the real world this has literally never come up so I don't have to engage with it.

[–] pyre 1 points 4 days ago

no, i know and understand what you mean. as i said in my original comment; it's not intuitive. but if everything in life were intuitive there wouldn't be mind blowing discoveries and revelations... and what kind of sad life is that?

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