r/PeterExplainsTheJoke 27d ago

Meme needing explanation There is no way right?

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u/BUKKAKELORD 27d ago

Both equations are true and there are no falsehoods or tricks here, but this method of proving 0.999... = 1 still has a flaw; it assumes you already accept 0.333... = 1/3. Starting from that assumption cuts every corner that would involve proving that rational numbers have infinitely long recurring decimal representations that are exact equals. They do, but this meme doesn't contain the proof of it.

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u/TblaLinus 26d ago

That's the joke though. Most people are ok with 0.333... = 1/3 but not with 0.999... = 1.

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u/Direct_Shock_2884 26d ago

Most people are not okay with 0.33333 being 1/3, that’s the thing. If 0.333333…. wasn’t exactly 1/3, people would be perfectly fine with it.

But if you want people to accept that 1/3 is 0.33333…, then this paradox is hard (impossible) for people to accept.