781
teachings (mander.xyz)
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[-] criitz@reddthat.com 25 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

You're correct. The square root operator only returns the principal root (the positive one).

So if x^2 = 9 then x = ±√9 = ±3

That's why in something like the quadratic formula we all had to memorize in school its got a "plus or minus" in it: -b ± √...(etc)

[-] UnRelatedBurner@sh.itjust.works 9 points 6 months ago

Thanks, I haven't connected the dots to that (+-) sign and this problem.

[-] Routhinator@startrek.website 1 points 6 months ago

So I checked this on my smartphone first, and thought maybe the software is just shit.. So then I checked it on a Casio scientific calc, and both agree.

-3^2 = -9... And 9 != -9

.... Are all the calculators somehow wrong? What's the math rule I'm forgetting here...

[-] criitz@reddthat.com 5 points 6 months ago

I think your calculator is interpreting that as -(3^2) and not (-3)^2

[-] Routhinator@startrek.website 3 points 6 months ago

Oh derp. Yep it is.

Was better when calcs had a +/- button.

And I remembered the math rule too.

[-] Routhinator@startrek.website 1 points 6 months ago

GD I am just realizing how long its been since I did math in my head without a programming language..

I should take a math class again or something and refresh that knowledge.

this post was submitted on 17 Apr 2024
781 points (98.0% liked)

Science Memes

10940 readers
1893 users here now

Welcome to c/science_memes @ Mander.xyz!

A place for majestic STEMLORD peacocking, as well as memes about the realities of working in a lab.



Rules

  1. Don't throw mud. Behave like an intellectual and remember the human.
  2. Keep it rooted (on topic).
  3. No spam.
  4. Infographics welcome, get schooled.

This is a science community. We use the Dawkins definition of meme.



Research Committee

Other Mander Communities

Science and Research

Biology and Life Sciences

Physical Sciences

Humanities and Social Sciences

Practical and Applied Sciences

Memes

Miscellaneous

founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS