371
Conversing with Mathematicians (mander.xyz)
submitted 2 years ago by to c/science_memes@mander.xyz
56 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] 185 points 2 years ago* (17 children)

What about plain old x = -10?

-10 ^ 2 = 100
-10 ^ 3 = -1000
-10 ^ 5 = -100000

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • hideshow 17 child comments
    •
  • [–] 68 points 2 years ago (3 children)

    That's what he wrote, I imagine.

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 3 child comments
    •
  • [–] 32 points 2 years ago (2 children)

    10 * i^2 is -10.

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 2 child comments
    •
  • [–] 13 points 2 years ago (1 child)

    of course, but this problem is solvable without any understanding of complex numbers, and 10*i^2 is a really clunky, multi-operation expression whereas -10 is just an integer.

    simplifying one's answers is standard practice and any grader who received the answer in the OP would be obligated to point out that while technically correct, they're missing the basic fact that the answer is -10.

    The Rube Goldberg comment is apt as the solution is absurdly complicated and overengineered for the task it performs.

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 1 child comment
    •
  • [–] 20 points 2 years ago (2 children)

    Nothing gets past you eh?

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 2 child comments
    •
  • [–] 12 points 2 years ago (2 children)

    Yeah exactly you're right, why overcomplicate the problem like the Reddit comment did? I guess that's just typical Reddit thinking that being pendantic and using lots of fancy words and long explanations makes you smart.

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 2 child comments
    •