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  #1  
Old 11-18-2007, 07:45 PM
john kane john kane is offline
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Default Maths: why does 987654321 / 123456789 = 8.000000073

i have spent many time at work typing into my calculator stuff like this. anyone know why if you do 987654321 divided by 123456789 it comes to such an eerie number, so close to 8, but not quite?
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Old 11-18-2007, 07:58 PM
Styhn Styhn is offline
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Default Re: Maths: why does 987654321 / 123456789 = 8.000000073

Uhm.. Because 123456789 * 8 is almost equal to 987654321? Not trying to sound smug but that's all there is to it I think [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]
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  #3  
Old 11-18-2007, 08:01 PM
felson felson is offline
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Default Re: Maths: why does 987654321 / 123456789 = 8.000000073

because
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Old 11-18-2007, 08:10 PM
felson felson is offline
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Default Re: Maths: why does 987654321 / 123456789 = 8.000000073

eh, i'll explain a little. if you compare successive lines in the picture, you can see what is happening. it's a consequence of the fact that eight is two less than ten, the base of the decimal system. you would get a similar pattern with 6 in octal, or 14 in hexadecimal.
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Old 11-18-2007, 09:39 PM
thylacine thylacine is offline
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Default Re: Maths: why does 987654321 / 123456789 = 8.000000073

[ QUOTE ]
i have spent many time at work typing into my calculator stuff like this. anyone know why if you do 987654321 divided by 123456789 it comes to such an eerie number, so close to 8, but not quite?

[/ QUOTE ]

Consider 10/81 and 80/81 in decimal.

Also consider 1/9 in decimal, then square it.
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  #6  
Old 11-18-2007, 10:54 PM
eviljeff eviljeff is offline
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Default Re: Maths: why does 987654321 / 123456789 = 8.000000073

I love this thread
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  #7  
Old 11-18-2007, 11:57 PM
mbillie1 mbillie1 is offline
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Default Re: Maths: why does 987654321 / 123456789 = 8.000000073

because numbers are rigged, for more evidence see: fulltiltpoker.com
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  #8  
Old 11-19-2007, 12:35 AM
vetiver vetiver is offline
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Default Re: Maths: why does 987654321 / 123456789 = 8.000000073

[ QUOTE ]
because numbers are rigged, for more evidence see: fulltiltpoker.com

[/ QUOTE ]

Why are people trying to explain this with hexadecimals when this quote explains it entirely?
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  #9  
Old 11-19-2007, 03:39 AM
David Sklansky David Sklansky is offline
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Default Re: Maths: why does 987654321 / 123456789 = 8.000000073

I'd rather someone tell my why cubes add up to squares. Using geomety, not algebra.
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  #10  
Old 11-19-2007, 05:07 AM
mrick mrick is offline
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Default NUMBER OF THE BEAST

I have worse news, sir. Try adding the numbers in ROULETTE.

1+2+3+4+...+35+36

Scary.
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