| Outreach Project |
Our web outreach efforts are very effective, reaching millions of people around the globe with the Good News of Jesus Christ.
Please prayerfully consider a sacrificial donation in support of Catholic Answers and its Internet activities. As a token of our appreciation, we have a FREE gift for you.
 More info...
|
|
Welcome to Catholic Answers Forums, the largest Catholic Community on the Web.
Here you can join over 150,000 members from around the world discussing all things Catholic. Membership is open to all, Catholic and non-Catholic alike, who seek the Truth with Charity.
To gain full access, you must register for a FREE account. After registering you'll be able to:
- Submit questions about the faith to experts from Catholic Answers
- Participate in all forum discussions
- Communicate privately with Catholics from around the world
- Plus join a prayer group, read with the Book Club, and much more.
Registration is fast, simple and absolutely free. So join our community today!
Have a question about registration or your account login? Just contact our Support Hotline.
|
 |
Mar 16, '08, 7:23 pm
|
|
Regular Member
Book Club Member
|
|
Join Date: September 6, 2006
Posts: 3,571
Religion: Evangelical Presbyterian
|
|
Fun with math!
Whoever solves the current problem gets to post the next one. If it isn't solved in 24 hours, then it is either a stumper or a thread killer...
Picture a right triangle. The hypotenuse is x. One side is sqrt(a-b) and the other is sqrt(b-a). x=?
__________________
Remember the Persecuted Church.
"on God call thou, thine own are sins, merits are God’s. Punishment to thee is owing, and when reward shall have come, His own gifts He will crown, not thy merits."
-Augustine, Narrations on the Psalms, 71:18 sec 22
|
Mar 16, '08, 7:35 pm
|
|
Veteran Member
Prayer Warrior
|
|
Join Date: September 6, 2006
Posts: 20,362
Religion: Roman Catholic
|
|
Re: Fun with math!
Isn't it the square root of the sum of both sides (not the diagonal)? I remember something like that way back in middle school.
__________________
O Blood and Water which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus as Font of Mercy for us, I trust in You!
Tiber Swim Team '07-'08
|
Mar 16, '08, 7:42 pm
|
|
Banned
|
|
Join Date: February 27, 2008
Posts: 18,047
Religion: Catholic
|
|
Re: Fun with math!
Physically impossible. If a-b is positive, it is impossible for b-a to be positive. Since you cannot take the square root of a negative number, you do not have the length of one side.
|
Mar 16, '08, 7:46 pm
|
|
Veteran Member
Prayer Warrior
|
|
Join Date: September 6, 2006
Posts: 20,362
Religion: Roman Catholic
|
|
Re: Fun with math!
Quote:
Originally Posted by peregrinus_WA
Physically impossible. If a-b is positive, it is impossible for b-a to be positive. Since you cannot take the square root of a negative number, you do not have the length of one side.
|
Thus an "Imaginary Number". (square root of i, I think.)
__________________
O Blood and Water which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus as Font of Mercy for us, I trust in You!
Tiber Swim Team '07-'08
|
Mar 17, '08, 5:56 pm
|
|
Regular Member
Book Club Member
|
|
Join Date: September 6, 2006
Posts: 3,571
Religion: Evangelical Presbyterian
|
|
Re: Fun with math!
Well if a=b then x=0, but then
x is always zero, regardless of what a and b are.
(sqrt(a-b))^2+(sqrt(b-a))^2 =x
a-b+ b-a = x
a-a+b-b = x
0+ 0 =x
0= x
It's an odd little right triangle, what with an imaginary number for a side!
__________________
Remember the Persecuted Church.
"on God call thou, thine own are sins, merits are God’s. Punishment to thee is owing, and when reward shall have come, His own gifts He will crown, not thy merits."
-Augustine, Narrations on the Psalms, 71:18 sec 22
|
Mar 17, '08, 6:13 pm
|
|
Banned
|
|
Join Date: February 27, 2008
Posts: 18,047
Religion: Catholic
|
|
Re: Fun with math!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Truthstalker
Well if a=b then x=0, but then
x is always zero, regardless of what a and b are.
(sqrt(a-b))^2+(sqrt(b-a))^2 =x
a-b+ b-a = x
a-a+b-b = x
0+ 0 =x
0= x
It's an odd little right triangle, what with an imaginary number for a side!
|
I deal in real numbers 
|
Mar 19, '08, 5:00 pm
|
|
Regular Member
Book Club Member
|
|
Join Date: September 6, 2006
Posts: 3,571
Religion: Evangelical Presbyterian
|
|
Re: Fun with math!
Quote:
Originally Posted by peregrinus_WA
I deal in real numbers |
For the case a = b all the numbers are real. 
Anyone want another one, or should we just let this thread die?
__________________
Remember the Persecuted Church.
"on God call thou, thine own are sins, merits are God’s. Punishment to thee is owing, and when reward shall have come, His own gifts He will crown, not thy merits."
-Augustine, Narrations on the Psalms, 71:18 sec 22
|
Mar 19, '08, 10:07 pm
|
|
Prayer Warrior
Radio Club Member
Forum Supporter
|
|
Join Date: February 20, 2007
Posts: 860
Religion: Bitter Catholic
|
|
Re: Fun with math!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Truthstalker
For the case a = b all the numbers are real.
Anyone want another one, or should we just let this thread die? |
Was the problem solved? If so, bring on the next one.
|
Mar 22, '08, 12:21 pm
|
|
Regular Member
Book Club Member
|
|
Join Date: September 6, 2006
Posts: 3,571
Religion: Evangelical Presbyterian
|
|
Re: Fun with math!
Quote:
Originally Posted by ABostonCatholic
Was the problem solved? If so, bring on the next one.
|
In all cases x=0.
b = -2a is kind of interesting.
Since this wasn't solved, I'll have to think up another fun problem.
Or was it solved?  If p_WA claims his solution was valid, he may post the next problem...
__________________
Remember the Persecuted Church.
"on God call thou, thine own are sins, merits are God’s. Punishment to thee is owing, and when reward shall have come, His own gifts He will crown, not thy merits."
-Augustine, Narrations on the Psalms, 71:18 sec 22
|
| Thread Tools |
Search Thread |
|
|
|
| Display |
 Linear Mode
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
|
Catholic Answers
