Sunday, August 1, 2021

Question

 1. If both x and n are positive whole numbers, can x + n < x?

(show your work)

7 comments:

  1. Wuuuut?

    x+n < x
    n < 0
    but n > 0

    What am I missing?

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  2. Obviously no and the previous comment noted the simple arithmetic. OK - what National Review oped are you mocking?

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  3. Don't even need to note the contradiction. After subtracting x from both sides, one is left with n < 0. End of story.

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  4. Simple arithmetic of course but is there some Alternative Arithmetic ala someone like Kudlow the Klown?

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  5. What if x is value, though, and n is an increment of value?

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  6. So if x and n are functions that initially take positive values (integer or not) but are then given new arguments (e.g. x is given the value of n and/or n is given the value of x as functional inputs), indeed it is possible for each of them separately to switch signs and for the sum of them to switch signs too. Depends on the functions.

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  7. long time since i took a math course, bs in 1972.

    i see a lot has changed.

    ReplyDelete

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