Monday, November 17, 2008

Western Thought Wednesday: Berkeley and That Other Guy

That Other Guy said, "I refute Berkeley thus." He then kicked a rock. Berkeley has yet to be impressed by this comment. I wonder what he would think of today's XKCD.

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

I have an irrefutable proof that the square root of -1 is 1.

Anonymous said...

absolutely.

Chuckles said...

What's the square root of zero? So unprofound.

Anonymous said...

The square root of zero is zero. If you think about it, it's pretty deep.

The "official" "story" is that the square root of -1 is an "imaginary" number, as though numbers could be imaginary. I think this is patently false.

Observe:

sqrt(-1) is equal to (-1)^(1/2), by definition of square root.

(-1)^(1/2) is equal to (-1)^(2/4), because 1/2 = 2/4.

(-1)^(2/4) is equal to (-1)^(2*(1/4)) because 2/4 = 2*(1/4)

(-1)^(2*(1/4)) is equal to ((-1)^2)^(1/4) by definition of exponent.

((-1)^2)^(1/4) is equal to 1^(1/4) because -1 squared is just 1.

And 1 to the power of anything is just 1.

Therefore the square root of -1 is not some strange "imaginary" "number" concept, but merely 1. However, mathematicians have conspired to suppress my research.

Stop Big Math now!

Anonymous said...

OMG. Is this WRN?!! Fulliecakes is going to bust out in Danish and do string theory proofs for us soon. Gaaaaaahhh.

Could we get back to FG where we discuss who dated a stripper in college or who should be schtupping AG. Please!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

That does not compute. Or compote, if you're hungry.

Adorable Girlfriend said...

AG is going to compute in a minute and then start banning some tuckus. Billy P., go ahead and pluralize that tuckus because it's collective, MISSY!

Anonymous said...

I am hungry. Anyone got some raspberry compote?

zombie rotten mcdonald said...

BP has been brain-eated.

Anonymous said...

How about some British dialect? "Brain-et".

Anonymous said...

I had some compote, but someone stuck their math in it.

Anonymous said...

That sounds dirty, mdh.

Chuckles said...

Did someone say zombies?

AG ain't banning anyone.

Kathleen said...

everyone in califronia compotes their trash. It makes great fertilizer!

Anonymous said...

I am going to ban Chuckles for that.
Ban.
Ban.
Ban.

Banned.