Re: Idle Thoughts

On 22 Aug 2005 15:40:14 -0700, "Nick Hodges [TeamB]"
<nickhodges@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

>Didn't follow that one.

Repeating what Dejan Stanic said:

We know 10*x - x = 9*x (1)

If x = 0.9999999... [infinitely] (2)

Then 10*x = 9.9999999... [infinitely] (3)

Use (2) and (3) to calculate left side of equation (1):
9.9999999... - 0.9999999... = [exactly] 9

Substitute with the original left side of (1), which then becomes:

9 = 9*x

9
- = x
9

1 = x

x = 1

>From what I understand, the "reason" it works, is because when you
multiply with 10 in (3), the weirdness of infinity steps in and
ensures that you don't simply move the decimal point as you normally
do, but always end up with as many decimal digits as in (2). It' along
the lines of "Infinity + 1 = Infinity"

If it helps, I spent some time absorbing this too :)

- Asbjørn
.