the following question: if you think there is a point that touches one [1] just to the left on the real number line, what might that number be? In addition to not being particularly well worded, this is a bit of a trick question.
2006-08-10 07:16:43 · 9 answers · asked by tom d 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Mathematics
To Tom: The poor wording is my fault. With regards to the other two points you made-- it doesn't seem altogether unreasonable to me to assume that one attempting to answer this question would already know those things.
2006-08-10 18:02:36 · update #1
There is no 'next' or 'previous' number.
The real line is dense. The irrationals are dense. The rationals are dense.
As well between any two irrationals there is an rational. And between any two rationals there is an irrational.
^o) although i presume that he is trying to be a smart *** as if none of us ever took intro real analysis.
2006-08-10 08:47:52 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
A point that touches to the left of 1? Sounds like limit problem in calculus, but limit problems never touch, they just get closer and closer.
As long is it doesn't use -1 as the base.
2006-08-10 07:26:54 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Does your college teacher friend also set his exams this way - badly worded?
1. What is a point?
2. Can points 'touch'? If yes, how? Give a rule.
A bit of a trick question? Heck no, I'd say it is about as daft as one can get...
2006-08-10 10:06:59 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
I'd say 1- is just to the left of 1. The difference (1 - 1-) may be defined as delta x, where delta x is as small as you want it to be. In the limit as delta x approaches zero, the difference (1 - 1-) equals zero.
2006-08-10 07:34:58 · answer #4 · answered by bpiguy 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
0 or - 1.
2006-08-10 07:23:54 · answer #5 · answered by amy 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Um, yeah. One is a Dedekind cut, and so is any other "point" on the number line. Between any two of these, you can always find another. In other words, the real numbers are "dense."
2006-08-10 12:10:58 · answer #6 · answered by Benjamin N 4 · 1⤊ 2⤋
If it touches 1 on the left, but is not directly on 1, I would say 0.9.
2006-08-10 07:25:28 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
simple.it is 1 as you say that it touches 1.how does it matter left or right.as long as it touches 1 it is 1
2006-08-10 07:38:20 · answer #8 · answered by raj 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
lim{x->inf}((x-1)/x)
2006-08-10 08:26:50 · answer #9 · answered by loanofficer1506 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋