Category: Mathematics
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Leibnitz, Polynesia, potatoes.
Polynesian islanders spoke the language of computers centuries before the first programmer was born. It seems that inhabitants of Mangareva island in French Polynesia created their own particular hybrid of decimal and binary number systems to do mental arithmetic. (1) Binary or decimal, one thing is for sure. We have the need to measure. We…
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(-1) times (-1) does not equal 1?
Why a negative times a negative should be a positive? (1) Is the enemy of my enemy my friend? Take a look at the following string of equations: –1 × 3 = –3 –1 × 2 = –2 –1 × 1 = –1 –1 × 0 = 0 –1 × –1 = ? Now look…
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DIVISION BY ZERO (1/0 = One)
A number cannot be divided by zero. This is what mathematics today claim. But think again. Some years ago, it was not possible to have a number whose square results in a negative number. But then… we thought… why not? And now we have imaginary numbers with tons of applications. Zero is a useful tool…
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