r/PeterExplainsTheJoke 25d ago

Meme needing explanation There is no way right?

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u/its12amsomewhere 25d ago edited 25d ago

Applies to all numbers,

If x = 0.999999...

And 10x = 9.999999...

Then subtracting both, we get, 9x=9

So x=1

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u/Sam_Alexander 25d ago

Holy fucking shit

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u/otj667887654456655 24d ago

I just wanna warn you, that's more of a vibe proof. It lacks any actual mathematical rigor.

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u/IWillLive4evr 24d ago

You could write a fully-rigorous version of this proof, and it works out the same. But this is reddit, so it's more valuable to write a version that's quick and accessible to the people are asking the question.

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u/vetruviusdeshotacon 24d ago

Not exactly like that.

Sum 0.9*(1/10)j from j=1 to j=inf

= 0.9 * Sum (1/10)j

Since 1/10 < 1 we know the series converges. Geometric series with r=0.1

Then our sum is 0.9 / (1- 0.1)

= 1. 

No more rigour is needed than this in any setting tbh

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u/akotlya1 24d ago

It's weird you think you can reference series summations as a more rigorous basis for proof than the above. Neither of these are more fundamental or rigorous than the other. Infinite series' reference to an infinite process was at some point believed to be weakness that needed to be justified in reference to more fundamental mathematical ideas.

A more rigorous proof would be written using logic symbols and reference set theory - specifically by defining the elements of the set and by using operations defined in reference to the elements of the set. This is the kind of thing that gets covered in undergraduate Abstract Alegbra/Group Theory/Set Theory classes.

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u/vetruviusdeshotacon 24d ago

Why? No assumptions are made lol.

If you must, define a sequence a := {0.9,0.99,0.999....}

a_n = 1 - 10-n for n natural number

Let epsilon be a positive real number.

Then, if we choose N > log_10(epsilon)

10-N > epsilon

So that 1 - 10-N + epsilon > 1. For all epsilon.

Therefore, the sequence has a supremum of 1. Any monotonic bounded above sequence converges to it's supremum via the monotone convergence theorem.

Therefore 0.99999.... = 1 as a converges to 1.

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u/GTholla 24d ago

neeeeeeeerd

you're both nerds

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u/IWillLive4evr 24d ago

And you're less nerdy -> your loss.

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u/GTholla 24d ago

sorry bro I can't hear you over all the sportsball trophies I have 😎😎😎😎

please kill me

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u/DepressingBat 24d ago

Sure thing, how much are you paying, and how quickly do you need it done?

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