Linked Questions

2 votes
5 answers
316 views

Why does an argument similiar to $\frac{1}{2}+\frac{1}{4}+\frac{1}{8}+...=1$ show that $2+4+8+...=-2$ [duplicate]

See how to prove $\frac{1}{2}+\frac{1}{4}+\frac{1}{8}+...=1$ $x=\frac{1}{2}+\frac{1}{4}+\frac{1}{8}+...$ $2x=1+\frac{1}{2}+\frac{1}{4}+\frac{1}{8}+...$ Then: $x=1$ Now I use the same argument to ...
Taha Akbari's user avatar
  • 3,570
0 votes
1 answer
384 views

why does ...999 apparently equal -1? is this notation valid? [duplicate]

I debated 9... != 1 claims for years now, but the discussion surfaced once again, this time I asked myself: what if I "change the direction" of the recurring digit, i.e. add 9s BEFORE the ...
Lorem Ipsum1729's user avatar
2 votes
2 answers
126 views

How would you convince the child-me this is false: $0.\bar{9} = 1 \implies \bar{9} = - 1$? [duplicate]

So I remember as a child when I was taught: $ . \bar9 =1 $ The proof was taught as: $$x = 0.\bar{9} \\ 10x = 9.\bar{9} \\ 10x - x = 9.\bar{9} - 0.\bar{9} \\ 9x = 9 \\ x = 1 \\ \therefore 0.\bar{9} = ...
More Anonymous's user avatar
73 votes
6 answers
25k views

$1 + 2 + 4 + 8 + 16 \ldots = -1$ paradox

I puzzled two high school Pre-calc math teachers today with a little proof (maybe not) I found a couple years ago that infinity is equal to -1: Let x equal the geometric series: $1 + 2 + 4 + 8 + 16 \...
Christian's user avatar
  • 841
51 votes
5 answers
3k views

Calculation with infinitely many operands

Recently I have come across the equation $$x^{x^{x^{x^{...}}}} = 2$$ which I found out to be solvable using substitution: $$u = x^{x^{x^{x^{...}}}} = 2$$ $$x^u = 2$$ $$x^2 = 2$$ $$x = \sqrt{2}$$ ...
TheCodingDamian's user avatar
19 votes
4 answers
2k views

Divergent series and $p$-adics

If we naïvely apply the formula $$\sum_0^\infty a^i = {1\over 1-a}$$ when $a=2$, we get the silly-seeming claim that $1+2+4+\ldots = -1$. But in the 2-adic integers, this formula is correct. Surely ...
MJD's user avatar
  • 65.8k
4 votes
3 answers
6k views

Wrong calculation by a calculator

Today I was working on some chemistry problems . Many of you might know it involves some big exponents. So today I just entered in one of my calculators (which might not be strong) as it was inbuilt ...
Archis Welankar's user avatar
1 vote
0 answers
133 views

Why is it considered that $ | \mathbb{Q} | = | \mathbb{N} | $ is true, but $ | \mathbb{R} | = | \mathbb{N} | $ is wrong?

Please clarify why $|\mathbb{Q}| = |\mathbb{N}|$, but $|\mathbb{R}| > |\mathbb{N}|$? Why do following arguments about $|\mathbb{R}| = |\mathbb{N}|$ are wrong? Two sets are equinumerous if there is ...
Dsf's user avatar
  • 29
0 votes
1 answer
93 views

Why doesn't $\sum_{n=0}^\infty2^n=-1$?

Now of course I'm not stranger to the fact that adding finite (and in many cases - infinite) amount of positive numbers always yeilds a positive number, but in many cases, often the finite limit isn't ...
Graviton's user avatar
  • 4,472
1 vote
0 answers
131 views

Representing negative numbers with an infinite number?

Motivation We all know that: $$ .\bar{9} =.999 \dots= 1$$ I was wondering if the following (obviously not rigorous) statement could be defined on the same footing? Question $$ x = \bar{9} $$ $$ \...
drewdles's user avatar
  • 1,581