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  Discussion about math, puzzles, games and fun.   Useful symbols: ÷ × ½ √ ∞ ≠ ≤ ≥ ≈ ⇒ ± ∈ Δ θ ∴ ∑ ∫ • π ƒ -¹ ² ³ °

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#51 2013-08-05 20:00:15

Bob
Administrator
Registered: 2010-06-20
Posts: 10,010

Re: Change your subject.

hi Stefy,

Thanks for the reply.  The idea that   √ and 'square root' don't mean quite the same thing was new to me so I've been thinking about it.

So how does the principle value concept work then?

Bob


Children are not defined by school ...........The Fonz
You cannot teach a man anything;  you can only help him find it within himself..........Galileo Galilei
Sometimes I deliberately make mistakes, just to test you!  …………….Bob smile

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#52 2013-08-05 22:32:13

zetafunc.
Guest

Re: Change your subject.

From complex analysis I think you write the number in polar form, then use De Moivre's theorem to find the principal value, with the angle between -π and π (and r is non-negative).

In this case, we get 1 + i√3 as the principal value.

#53 2013-08-06 00:19:34

Bob
Administrator
Registered: 2010-06-20
Posts: 10,010

Re: Change your subject.

Thanks zetafunc.

So, in practice, does it really matter?

Bob


Children are not defined by school ...........The Fonz
You cannot teach a man anything;  you can only help him find it within himself..........Galileo Galilei
Sometimes I deliberately make mistakes, just to test you!  …………….Bob smile

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#54 2013-08-06 00:30:22

anonimnystefy
Real Member
From: Harlan's World
Registered: 2011-05-23
Posts: 16,049

Re: Change your subject.

Does it matter in which sense?


“Here lies the reader who will never open this book. He is forever dead.
“Taking a new step, uttering a new word, is what people fear most.” ― Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Crime and Punishment
The knowledge of some things as a function of age is a delta function.

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#55 2013-08-06 00:50:25

EbenezerSon
Member
Registered: 2013-07-04
Posts: 554

Re: Change your subject.

This is a solved example from the book, but has no negative and positive sign in it finall answer though I expect;

Example 10.26

Make u the subject of the relation

V = 1/4(25-U^2)^1/2.

And


Make V the subject.

E = V + 1/2MV^2.

What do you make of this?
Why do suppose the book did not bring both signs at all, in each case?

Thanks.

Last edited by EbenezerSon (2013-08-06 01:04:17)


I know only one thing - that is that I know nothing

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#56 2013-08-06 00:58:19

zetafunc.
Guest

Re: Change your subject.

bob bundy wrote:

Thanks zetafunc.

So, in practice, does it really matter?

Bob

If one is not careful, it can lead to incorrect solutions to integrals like the one in #48 (if the method of evaluation is to use a contour with the residue theorem).

#57 2013-08-06 10:27:23

EbenezerSon
Member
Registered: 2013-07-04
Posts: 554

Re: Change your subject.

EbenezerSon wrote:

Make u the subject of the relation

V = 1/4(25-U^2)^1/2.

And


Make V the subject.

E = V + 1/2MV^2.

The above is a problem in a book, it is solved in it, but the letter which should be the subject in each case carries a square, and to my suprise the right hand side eqution has no positive and negative sign in front of the root signs and it really baffles me why the signs are absent.
Do anyone have an idea why the signs where omitted by the book?


Thanks.


I know only one thing - that is that I know nothing

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#58 2013-08-06 19:29:38

bobbym
bumpkin
From: Bumpkinland
Registered: 2009-04-12
Posts: 109,606

Re: Change your subject.

Hi;

I am getting


In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.

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#59 2013-08-06 20:03:36

EbenezerSon
Member
Registered: 2013-07-04
Posts: 554

Re: Change your subject.

Yes that's fine.
But I suppose when  you solve  it down the RHS must take 'the square root sign'
and a positive and a negative sign as well. Strangely only the root sign is present.
What do you think is like that in the book?


I know only one thing - that is that I know nothing

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#60 2013-08-06 20:15:18

bobbym
bumpkin
From: Bumpkinland
Registered: 2009-04-12
Posts: 109,606

Re: Change your subject.

In that case it was not necessary to take a square root at any time.


In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.

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#61 2013-08-06 21:30:38

EbenezerSon
Member
Registered: 2013-07-04
Posts: 554

Re: Change your subject.

So you mean there will be no square at the RHS at all? The book has it there.


My problem with it is, why there is no positive and negative sign in front of the root sign at the RHS in the book.


I know only one thing - that is that I know nothing

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#62 2013-08-06 21:44:36

bobbym
bumpkin
From: Bumpkinland
Registered: 2009-04-12
Posts: 109,606

Re: Change your subject.

The above is a problem in a book, it is solved in it, but the letter which should be the subject in each case carries a square

You said the subject is squared.

I took your quote to mean you wanted to solve for U^2. If you want to solve for U then we will take a root.


In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.

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#63 2013-08-08 00:14:19

EbenezerSon
Member
Registered: 2013-07-04
Posts: 554

Re: Change your subject.

But if I am solving for U, and take root of both sides, I think there will come a root sign to the the R.H.S,  in front of the root sign there must be positive and negative sign present,  is that not it?


Thank you Bobbym.


I know only one thing - that is that I know nothing

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#64 2013-08-08 00:15:31

bobbym
bumpkin
From: Bumpkinland
Registered: 2009-04-12
Posts: 109,606

Re: Change your subject.

Yes, if you solve for U, then there will be a ± in front.


In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.

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#65 2013-08-08 00:23:02

EbenezerSon
Member
Registered: 2013-07-04
Posts: 554

Re: Change your subject.

Thanks, Bobbym
I cant tell why the book did not bring that.


Thanks once more.

Amen.


I know only one thing - that is that I know nothing

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#66 2013-08-08 00:27:34

bobbym
bumpkin
From: Bumpkinland
Registered: 2009-04-12
Posts: 109,606

Re: Change your subject.

It just means one is positive and the other is negative.


In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.

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#67 2013-08-08 20:58:24

EbenezerSon
Member
Registered: 2013-07-04
Posts: 554

Re: Change your subject.

It seems you did not get what I mean.

I mean the book solved for U but there was no positive and negative sign in front of 'the root sign' to the R.H.S.



what do you think it did not have it?


I know only one thing - that is that I know nothing

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#68 2013-08-08 23:57:33

bobbym
bumpkin
From: Bumpkinland
Registered: 2009-04-12
Posts: 109,606

Re: Change your subject.

Because sometimes it is left out.


In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.

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#69 2013-08-10 03:49:45

EbenezerSon
Member
Registered: 2013-07-04
Posts: 554

Re: Change your subject.

If for inştance, a student does that would not a teacher mark him down?


I know only one thing - that is that I know nothing

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#70 2013-08-10 04:08:30

bobbym
bumpkin
From: Bumpkinland
Registered: 2009-04-12
Posts: 109,606

Re: Change your subject.

Yes he/she might mark them down.


In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.

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#71 2013-08-10 04:33:30

EbenezerSon
Member
Registered: 2013-07-04
Posts: 554

Re: Change your subject.

Thanks.

In the case of pythagoras theorem, I rarely see those sign in the final solution.


I know only one thing - that is that I know nothing

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#72 2013-08-10 04:38:34

bobbym
bumpkin
From: Bumpkinland
Registered: 2009-04-12
Posts: 109,606

Re: Change your subject.

When dealing with the Pythagorean theorem you are usually working on a triangle. Triangles can not have negative lengths.


In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.

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#73 2013-08-11 02:18:15

EbenezerSon
Member
Registered: 2013-07-04
Posts: 554

Re: Change your subject.

Okay, Thanks bobbym.

Then I suppose, in change of subject, speed, velocity, time etc. Can't be negative in practise and therefore, if one is asked to make any of  the above  subject of a relation,  should be in the postive form instead.


I know only one thing - that is that I know nothing

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#74 2013-08-11 02:34:23

bobbym
bumpkin
From: Bumpkinland
Registered: 2009-04-12
Posts: 109,606

Re: Change your subject.

Speed is a scalar, so it can not be negative. Velocity is a vector, it can be negative. According to the physicists, time can take a negative value.


In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.

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#75 2013-08-11 07:03:01

EbenezerSon
Member
Registered: 2013-07-04
Posts: 554

Re: Change your subject.

On what basis can time take a negative value?

I haven't heard that before, did he prove why?


I know only one thing - that is that I know nothing

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