simple equation question

[sciencer]

If 0=2-(1+x), isn't the correct answer x=2? A simple question, before the author of the book is notified of the print error

[Fuzzwood]

0 != 2 - (1+2) = -1

[the tree]

The correct answer is pretty definitely x=1. How did you get x=2?

[Bignose]

0 != 2 - (1+2) = -1

 

yes -- follow this example. Plug 2 in for x and you should see that x=2 does not lead to an equality.

[sciencer]

The correct answer is pretty definitely x=1. How did you get x=2?

 

0=2-(1+x) -> -2=-(1+x) -> -2=-1-x -> -2+1=-x -> -1=-x -> x=1.

 

Can't get 2! Thanks.

[Djordje]

0=2-(1+x) -> -2=-(1+x) -> -2=-1-x -> -2+1=-x -> -1=-x -> x=1.

 

 

LOL why do you complicate this, much faster way to solution:

 

 

0=2-(x+1)

x+1=2

x=1

[Hal.]

sciencer in the original post writes ..........

If 0=2-(1+x), isn't the correct answer x=2? A simple question, before the author of the book is notified of the print error

 

 

 

The simple question is .......... If 0 = 2 - (1 + x ) , isn't the correct answer x = 2 ?

 

The simple answer is yes . The correct answer isn't x = 2 . The correct answer also isn't 2435782 . 815243 !

 

When computer programming interpreters ask these types of questions , ( on those circuit boards under your keypad for instance ) be sure to know what they are or aren't asking and what you are or aren't asking them to ask !

Edited April 4, 2011 by hal_2011

[imatfaal]

sciencer in the original post writes ..........

If 0=2-(1+x), isn't the correct answer x=2? A simple question, before the author of the book is notified of the print error

 

 

 

The simple question is .......... If 0 = 2 - (1 + x ) , isn't the correct answer x = 2 ?

 

The simple answer is yes . The correct answer isn't x = 2 . The correct answer also isn't 2435782 . 815243 !

 

When computer programming interpreters ask these types of questions , ( on those circuit boards under your keypad for instance ) be sure to know what they are or aren't asking and what you are or aren't asking them to ask !

 

"isn't the correct answer...?" is generally considered to expect an affirmation if the postulated answer is the correct answer. This question is not the same as the re-ordering of words to make the statement "the correct answer isn't"

 

The question "is the correct answer...? is asking a simple question. "isn't the correct answer...?" makes a proposition and rhetorically asks for its confirmation

[Hal.]

It should be noted that when Mick Jagger sang , " I can't get no satisfaction ! " , I suspect he was getting plenty of satisfaction . ( exactly as he was saying )

 

Likewise , when the kids sang , " We don't need no education ! " , I suspect they did need an education . ( exactly as they were saying )

 

And , if you don't know what I'm talking about , then maybe you've been on the wrong side of the pond for too long .

 

 

[imatfaal]

I am quite definitely not on the wrong side of the pond (but then who would believe they were), I also know about double negatives, and most importantly I understand the lyrics of Satisfaction - it wasn't an arch double negative, it was widely perceived as a protest against the tide of commercialism and pressure that young consumers felt. Likewise Roger Water's lyrics - it's a protest song, not a clever use of a linguistic twist.

[Hal.]

Imatfaal , I shouldn't be posting off subject as the higher powers that be don't like that sort of thing , so quickly , you posted , " it was widely perceived as a protest against the tide of commercialism and pressure that young consumers felt. ".

 

I don't know whether it was or it wasn't , maybe Mick does . I just thought he was having a great time .

 

I wonder if Mick Jaggers' fans felt pressure from the tide of commercialism to buy his vinyl .

 

I also wonder , if Mick wanted to make a protest against commercialism , why didn't he give his records to his fans for free ?

[imatfaal]

 

The title line is an example of a double negative resolving to a negative, a common usage in colloquial English. .... The lyrics outline the singer's irritation with the increasing commercialism of the modern world, where the radio broadcasts "useless information" and a man on television tells him "how white my shirts can be - but he can't be a man 'cause he doesn't smoke the same cigarettes as me." Jagger also describes the stress of being a celebrity, and the tensions of touring. ...

 

In its day the song was perceived as disturbing because of both its sexual connotations and the negative view of commercialism and other aspects of modern culture; critic Paul Gambaccini stated: "The lyrics to this were truly threatening to an older audience. This song was perceived as an attack on the status quo".

 

 

From Wikipedia page.

I also wonder , if Mick wanted to make a protest against commercialism , why didn't he give his records to his fans for free ?

this ad hom tu quoque and goes no where

You're right about this being off topic

[Hal.]

Imatfaal , my conclusion must be some words of wisdom . Most of the time when negatives are used in a question , for instance , don't you want a cup of coffee ? , people don't know what they have been asked because they think they have been asked , do you want a cup of coffee ? . These are not the same question and they cover all possibilities and the same answer , therefore , can't mean the same thing . If 2 answers of yes to these 2 questions result in 2 cups of coffee then questions are pointless . Why have a language where people ask questions if the answers don't matter ?

 

When a lot of people give the wrong answer to the question , ad nauseum , somebody somewhere will try to explain that they really were only using general speech and everyone actually should excuse their ignorance and replace it with their own . The people who are wrong are explaining why they are right and believers are believing them .

 

This post is totally relevant to this topic because the overall theme is math and the number of cups of coffee to be made is a math question . These sorts of questions are a major source of errors and misunderstandings in english and I wouldn't want to decide whether a jet fighter was flying at 35 000 ft based on a yes or no reply to the question , Aren't you at 35 000 ft ?

Edited April 7, 2011 by hal_2011

[imatfaal]

Imatfaal , my conclusion must be some words of wisdom . Most of the time when negatives are used in a question , for instance , don't you want a cup of coffee ? , people don't know what they have been asked because they think they have been asked , do you want a cup of coffee ? . These are not the same question and they cover all possibilities and the same answer , therefore , can't mean the same thing . If 2 answers of yes to these 2 questions result in 2 cups of coffee then questions are pointless . Why have a language where people ask questions if the answers don't matter ?

 

When a lot of people give the wrong answer to the question ad nauseum , somebody somewhere will try to explain that they really were only using general speech and everyone actually should excuse their ignorance and replace it with their own . The people who are wrong are explaining why they are right and believers are believing them .

 

This post is totally relevant to this topic because the overall theme is math and the number of cups of coffee to be made is a math question .

 

No native English English speaker would doubt the meaning of "Don't you want a cup of coffee?" when spoken by another native English English speaker; nor would they fail to spot the certain situations in which this formulation would be used - although I am not sure you do. Further they would they have no difficulty with "this is the correct answer isn't it?" The answers to the question given were not wrong; your incorrect interpretation of the question lead you to believe they were wrong.

[A Tripolation]

Imatfaal , my conclusion must be some words of wisdom . Most of the time when negatives are used in a question , for instance , don't you want a cup of coffee ? , people don't know what they have been asked because they think they have been asked , do you want a cup of coffee ? . These are not the same question and they cover all possibilities and the same answer , therefore , can't mean the same thing . If 2 answers of yes to these 2 questions result in 2 cups of coffee then questions are pointless . Why have a language where people ask questions if the answers don't matter ?

 

imatfaal is correct on all accounts, hal_2011. The English language has many subtleties, more perhaps than any other. Sentences can be taken different ways based on tone, body language, and even the previous sentences.

 

"Don't you want a cup of coffee?" is most assuredly someone surprised that that their conclusion of the person wanting coffee is incorrect.

 

The OP was indeed wanting verification for what he believed to be a correct answer.

[Hal.]

English English speakers doubt English English speakers all the time . That's why they don't understand what they are talking about . There is so much double meaning in English that eventually trying to keep track of all the possibilities is a recipe for a memory crash . It extends from the man in the street to the houses of parliament . This is why another question must eventually be asked to understand a previous answer .

 

Imatfaal , as much as possible I will comment about my answers in isolation to their surroundings unless I specifically refer to another answer .

 

 

In summary , Sciencer , Good chap or lass as he/she is , posted , " If 0 = 2 - ( 1 + x ) , isn't the correct answer x = 2 ? " .

 

We are all agreed about what the correct answer is , it is x = 1 .

 

If I am asked , isn't the correct answer x = 1 ? , I will answer " no " . I'll take my response of " no " to the question to mean x = 1 . And " yes " to mean it isn't . If you want to do the exact opposite , then do so .

 

If math thinking and general public thinking clash , that is the way it is . C'est la vie !

 

 

[imatfaal]

Hal - you are either not a native speaker or an unreformed pedant; and further it is clear you obviously have no intention of learning. Respond how you will, but be assured most people listening will recognize deliberate pedantry and proceed accordingly

[DrRocket]

Hal - you are either not a native speaker or an unreformed pedant; and further it is clear you obviously have no intention of learning. Respond how you will, but be assured most people listening will recognize deliberate pedantry and proceed accordingly

 

What is abundantly clear is that communication with Hal is not possible. I was under the general impression that the purpose of language was to facilitate communication. Is it not ? N'est pas ?

[Hal.]

Imatfaal , Consider the possibilities . Make your choices and let me know . Be careful . Don't contradict yourself . Lack of ignorance is always my goal .

 

Dr.Rocket , As an example , the purpose of language is to ask for a bag of chips for one's snack when needs require so , not inconsistent with your impression , shouldn't I utter ?

Edited April 7, 2011 by hal_2011

[DrRocket]

 

Dr.Rocket , As an example , the purpose of language is to ask for a bag of chips for one's snack when needs require so , not inconsistent with your impression , shouldn't I utter ?

 

If you were to never utter again, that would be all right with me.

[Hal.]

Day Day DrRocket , and then there were 2 !