Let's make math fun!

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Any interesting, funny or weird things about math? Post here! Yes, those cheesy math jokes count too

Here's one to start things off:

Proof of 0 = 1 (yup, that's ZERO equals ONE)

Let x = 1.

x^2 = x (this can be easily verified)

x^2 - 1 = x - 1 (subtract one from both sides)

(x+1)(x-1) = x-1 (factor the left side)

(x+1) = 1 (cancel a factor of x-1 from both sides)

x = 0 (combine the one's)

But we said at the beginning x = 1.
Therefore, 1 = 0.

(Obviously there is a subtle error in this proof.)

 

1. math cannot be fun

2. 1+1=?

 

Maths can never be fun, don't even try to make it so.

Writing maths on a PC is even worse than doing it by hand.

x = x nothing more, nothing less.

So sayeth the wise Yerril.

 

hmm i can see it's wrong (obviously) but not sure how. So gonna work through it.

1 = 1
1^2 = 1
1^2 - 1 = 1-1 = 0
(1+1)(1-1) = [P] = 0
(1+1) = 1?? no, it equals 2

Therefore the rest of the equation is messed up. Quite subtle error though.

[P]
1*1 = 1
1*-1 = -1
1*1 = 1
+1*-1 = -1
+ all = 0

btw was i right?

[ December 15, 2002, 22:33: Message edited by: Lazy Bonzo ]

 

What do you mean, MAKE maths fun? What could be more fun than maths?! Why, when I was a kid, calculus textbooks were what we had instead of Playstation! /me worries about kids today. Okey-doke, here are two mathematical limericks. They come out better when you aren't using plain text but if you're as geeky as I am you'll enjoy them anyway.

There was a young man from Nepal,
Who had a mathematical ball;
(W^3 * pi) - 8 = 4/3* (0^0.5)

(The cube of its weight,
Times pi, minus eight,
Is four thirds of the root of **** all)

and

"The order of nature, quoth he,
"Is wondrously brought home to me
When I think that my clock
With each tick and each tock,
Goes 2pi * (l/g^0.5)"

(two pi times the root of L over G)

 

Math is not fun, it's a means to an end for programmers. If I want to do something complicated with math I'll write up a small program and let the computer deal with it (ah yes, the joys of C++ the best programming language in the world...)

 

Erm, youre subtle error??

 

As has been stated above, mathematics can never be fun (Math on the other hand as in Mathethais can be very funny ). The whole reason we invented computers was to make sure that humans wouldnt have stoop to the dirty level of mathemathics but have machines do it for us. Except for the few poor buggers that have to build those machines. Man was meant for higher purposes than mathemathics, like partying and chasing things to procreate with or ponder about the philosophical meaning of a spot on your roof.

 

Mathematics merely is. At best it is a necessary evil.
Has anyone actually used pythagoras since they left school? I mean used it in a they needed to use it way, in a real life situation, not just useing it to answer this thread, or for a stupid real life problem.

 

I've used it in the army when we were left without anything except the map to find our way out of the area. If you do remember it, it's pretty handy to determine a distance - when you have a map from which you can easily get two sides of the triangle.

Also a friend of mine who studies architecture needs it pretty much when he is determining the height of a building that he doesn't have a plan of. No, he doesn't have laser imbued machines for that.

The point is not do you need it - the point is if you know how to use it. I could wander around woods and I'd eventually (after weeks if I survived) find a way out. And my friend could spend days searching in archives for plans. Instead, we used maths and were faster than others.

 

x^2=x is the subtle error in the afore mentioned equation. when using 1's it is correct, but a letter is a variable so you can't say all x's are ones. (or something like that)

 

It seems I should change the name of this thread according some responses...

@Sprite - Great limericks! That's the neat stuff I'm looking for!

Morgoth is absolutely right. Nice work.

 

Aegron is partually right-.
Though the main itchy thing to me is that you divide by a factor which has an already known value. That is Zero. It makes no sense to divide by Zero. It is fine by me if you call 1 the letter "x". Although x is almost always used as a variable, so your choice couldn't be worse. Use k or m, instead of x, and you won't hear any "variable" complaints like Aegrons.

Nevertheless I like it

 

WOW! Someone used pythagoras . And I agree maths does help you out in things, was just wondering about people using pythagoras' theorum.

 

Oh gosh...
When I saw this topic I almost cried...
Bleh, I can't imagine any way to make math funny.
*sigh*

 

I once had to calculate the volume of a cruciform with all rounded corners. I was running a computer program to determine the level of activation that something in the core of a nuclear power plant would reach after so much exposure, and one of the required inputs was the amount - in atoms, mind you - of each different component of the material. Between a detailed drawing of the item and a spec for the composition of the material, I was able to run my program.

The reviewer was quite impressed by my calculation, BTW.

 

...how about: let's not. this is about as fun as maths gets.

new gf is a secondary school maths teacher, she thinks maths is fun but kids aren't.

[deity edity]: hmm, i've seen that equation from the link that Frostmage has posted (below) somewhere before, but i can't quite place where...

[ December 17, 2002, 18:32: Message edited by: the god ]

 

for the record ... I am VERY fun!

 

Did you learn how to multiply by nine using your fingers? It's fairly common, especially if you watched Stand and Deliver, but I'll go through it anyways.

It only works for 9 times (some number between one and ten). Call it useless if you want, but it's still somewhat surprising that it works.

Hold your ten fingers out in front and number them off 1 to 10 from left to right. So your left thumb is 1 and your right thumb is 10.

Now let's try 9 times 4, for example. Bend down finger 4 - your left ring finger. Then you have 3 fingers up on the left, and 6 fingers up on the right. Put them together to get 36.

 

Maths is okay I think.

We are doing Pythagoras theorum atm

Some stuff I don't see the point of - eg. The volume of a prism

Why would a computer programmer need to know *that*

I know about 0s and 1s - I have all I need