I mean, I'm REALLY not one of those guys who gets all mystical about numbers; I understand that they merely represent real world physical relations, and all the "mystical" BS is just our failure to recognize some of them. There's nothing "magical" about the fact 2+2=2X2=2^2, it's just the nature of those functions and the number itself, just as when 3+3+3+3+3+3+3+3+3=3X3X3=3^3. It would take too long than anyone but me wants to spend explaining why 1/3^4 gives the first ten integers, in order, as a decimal, but I DO understand it (generally speaking. ) It makes sense, just as the numerator of a fraction with denominator 9 should be itself as a repeating decimal; dividing by 9, after all, is the same as dividing by 10-1.
So why does 1/7 become 0.142857...? Even the part with the final digits being 5 and 7 rather than 5 and 6 makes a kind of sense, just as 1/81=0.123456790... because 10 comes after 9, which carries over to make the 9 a 10 as well, which carries over to make the 8 a 9, hence 0.123456790... instead of continuing with the 8; it's still there, but the nature of the rest of the number "disguises" it. But 1/7, I've looked at it every which way for years and it doesn't make sense why it does that, why one single function performed on one single digit integer can yield a far more complex repeating decimal. Even 1/6 makes sense; it's just half of 1/3. But you can't do that with 7; it's prime. It just keeps getting weirder....
Suggestions, O Math Gurus...?
So why does 1/7 become 0.142857...? Even the part with the final digits being 5 and 7 rather than 5 and 6 makes a kind of sense, just as 1/81=0.123456790... because 10 comes after 9, which carries over to make the 9 a 10 as well, which carries over to make the 8 a 9, hence 0.123456790... instead of continuing with the 8; it's still there, but the nature of the rest of the number "disguises" it. But 1/7, I've looked at it every which way for years and it doesn't make sense why it does that, why one single function performed on one single digit integer can yield a far more complex repeating decimal. Even 1/6 makes sense; it's just half of 1/3. But you can't do that with 7; it's prime. It just keeps getting weirder....

Suggestions, O Math Gurus...?
Honorbound and honored to be Bonded to Mahtaliel Sedai
Last First in wotmania Chat
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Love still can't be coerced.
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Last First in wotmania Chat
Slightly better than chocolate.
Love still can't be coerced.
Please Don't Eat the Newbies!

LoL. Be well, RAFOlk.
This message last edited by Joel on 25/05/2010 at 02:13:32 AM
Continuing the Math Theme, WTF Is Up with the Seven?
25/05/2010 02:12:09 AM
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25/05/2010 08:19:12 AM
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Number theory holds a concept called "cyclic numbers."
25/05/2010 06:04:43 AM
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"If leading zeros are not permitted on numerals, then 142857 is the only cyclic number in decimal. "
25/05/2010 06:27:36 AM
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Happy Birthday...?
25/05/2010 08:56:59 AM
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You're a day early
25/05/2010 09:10:30 AM
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Got me on a technicality.
25/05/2010 09:19:54 AM
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Re: Got me on a technicality.
25/05/2010 09:27:59 AM
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But we're AWESOME!
25/05/2010 09:47:30 AM
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25/05/2010 09:50:43 AM
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Number THEORY is great fun, but too many folks make math too tedious, I'm afraid.
25/05/2010 09:53:21 AM
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You tend to get cyclic repeats when dividing by primes
25/05/2010 11:58:34 AM
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I actually DO feel like taking a course on number theory.
25/05/2010 12:12:10 PM
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Re: I actually DO feel like taking a course on number theory.
25/05/2010 01:46:10 PM
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Well, I'm not vouching for Wikipedias claim, just reiterating it.
25/05/2010 02:35:23 PM
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It's usually right but I wouldn't but much value on the implied importance
25/05/2010 04:22:52 PM
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If you say so; I really try hard not to channel Pythagoras.
26/05/2010 09:26:22 AM
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Re: If you say so; I really try hard not to channel Pythagoras.
26/05/2010 10:00:37 AM
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