News for hackers. Stuff that matters.

A comment on 0.999...= 1. Parent comment

Re:0.999...= 1 by tom-thistime on Tuesday April 28, 2020 @10:49AM (#23007517)
This is a really good point. Maybe the problem is how we define equality. What's the test for when two numbers are equal?

People accept that 1/3 = 0.333333... The same people don't always seem to accept that 3*0.33333... = 1. Well, how are we defining "equals"? If we can give that definition in black and white, I think that may help.

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:0.999...= 1 by esmi on Tuesday April 28, 2020 @06:02PM (#23012675)
> What's the test for when two numbers are equal?

I put this in another comment but: For the reals: eliminate a < b and a > b then conclude a = b.

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:0.999...= 1 by scrimps on Tuesday April 28, 2020 @11:35AM (#23008001)
If 30.33333... = 1, then 30.33333... != 0.9999..., then 0.9999... != 1
[ Parent | on HN ]