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#1 2007-05-21 16:11:27
- Big Mac
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- Registered: 2007-05-19
- Posts: 20
Optimist or Pessimist?
Hi Everyone, can anyone explain this little maths curiosity?
Is the glass half empty or half full?
Let E = Empty and F = Full
Therefore 0.5E = 0.5F
Multiplying by 2 to get E = F
Surely this is not possible???? lol - open for discussion.
By the way, if anyone has anymore "goodies" then I would be more than interested. Cheers.
I think, therefore I am.
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#2 2007-05-21 17:11:54
- Ricky
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- Registered: 2005-12-04
- Posts: 3,791
Re: Optimist or Pessimist?
Every time someone uses metamathematics, reaches a contradiction, and is surprised, a puppy dies.
"In the real world, this would be a problem. But in mathematics, we can just define a place where this problem doesn't exist. So we'll go ahead and do that now..."
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#3 2007-05-21 18:33:59
- MathsIsFun
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- Registered: 2005-01-21
- Posts: 7,711
Re: Optimist or Pessimist?
No, save the puppies!
0.5E ? Can you have half an empty?
"The physicists defer only to mathematicians, and the mathematicians defer only to God ..." - Leon M. Lederman
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#4 2007-05-22 02:38:07
- mikau
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- Registered: 2005-08-22
- Posts: 1,504
Re: Optimist or Pessimist?
why does it have to be or? Can't a glass be half empty AND half full?
A logarithm is just a misspelled algorithm.
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#5 2007-05-22 03:16:34
- Identity
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- Registered: 2007-04-18
- Posts: 934
Re: Optimist or Pessimist?
Hmm if the glass is half empty and half full is it 0.5E * 0.5F = 0.25EF???
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#6 2007-05-22 03:18:52
- mathsyperson
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- Registered: 2005-06-22
- Posts: 4,900
Re: Optimist or Pessimist?
What's empty * full?
Why did the vector cross the road?
It wanted to be normal.
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#7 2007-05-22 03:34:49
- Identity
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- Registered: 2007-04-18
- Posts: 934
Re: Optimist or Pessimist?
Well... nothing, unless you say empty = 0, which means that 0.5E * 0.5F = 0 
?
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#8 2007-05-22 17:09:14
- Big Mac
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- Registered: 2007-05-19
- Posts: 20
Re: Optimist or Pessimist?
Lol - cheers folks - some great replies.
mikau and Identity - Being independent, it probability is! - exhaustive though eh?
I think, therefore I am.
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#9 2007-05-23 04:40:09
- Kurre
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- Registered: 2006-07-18
- Posts: 280
Re: Optimist or Pessimist?
well actually its true that E=F since in both cases the "values" are the same but E is filled with air, and F is filled with a liquid 
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#10 2007-05-26 14:11:14
- landof+
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- Registered: 2007-03-24
- Posts: 131
Re: Optimist or Pessimist?
Or a common contradiction: e is enough and f is finish!
I shall be on leave until I say so...
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