Sunday, August 1, 2021

Question

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

(show your work)

7 comments:

The Sophist said...

Wuuuut?

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

What am I missing?

Unknown said...

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

rosserjb@jmu.edu said...

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

pgl said...

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

Sandwichman said...

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

Peter Dorman said...

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.

paddy kivlin said...

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

i see a lot has changed.