• Leviathan@lemmy.world
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    8 months ago

    Maybe someone better at math can answer this, but is 0.25/0.5 functionally the same as 0.5/1, or simply 0.5?

    • doctordevice@lemm.ee
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      8 months ago

      You can call it whatever you want, as long as it equals 1/2 it’s the same number.

      So yes, multiplying by 2/2 to make it more intuitively obvious is perfectly valid and a good way to think about it. Most arithmetic tricks are ultimately multiplying by 1 or adding 0 just to make the problem easier to handle.

      • Leviathan@lemmy.world
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        8 months ago

        Oh yeah, I just meant that they said I multiplied by 2, which in my head is 2/1 but I was multiplying by 1. Just trying to be clear.

    • 𝕾𝖕𝖎𝖈𝖞 𝕿𝖚𝖓𝖆@lemmy.world
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      8 months ago

      I think it’s easier to picture it in terms of fractions. When you divide by a fraction, you reciprocate the divisor. That is, you flip its numerator and denominator, then multiply them. In this case, we’re taking 1/4 and dividing it by 1/2. You take the reciprocal of 1/2, which is 2/1. Then multiply the numerators and denominators. You end up with (1/4)*(2/1)=2/4=1/2=0.5

    • Fellstone@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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      8 months ago

      0.25 is half of 0.5. Alternatively: A quarter is half of half. If you multiplied 0.25/0.5 by 2, then it would be 0.5/1, which is just 0.5.

        • Aleric@lemmy.world
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          8 months ago

          You’ve got it. The trick to working with fractions is multiplying them by fractional equivalents to one (2/2, 7/7, 13/13, etc) to change them into numbers that our monkey brains can handle more easily.

    • AnarchistArtificer@slrpnk.net
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      8 months ago

      Huh, that’s a cool way to think of it. I’ve done a decent amount of higher level maths but stuff like this always cooks my brain if I let it. I thought of the numbers as the fractions 1/4 and 1/2, which then reminds me that 1/2 * 1/2 = 1/4, but I think your way feels more elegant

    • intensely_human@lemm.ee
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      8 months ago

      I cannot comprehend how bad at math you need to be to ask this question.

      Like, 2 + 2 = 4 = 3 + 1.

      These are all equivalent. That’s what this symbol means: =

      • crapwittyname@lemm.ee
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        8 months ago

        There are better ways of saying this. You know, polite ways, where you don’t come across as an insecure dickhead.

      • SoleInvictus@lemmy.world
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        8 months ago

        I cannot comprehend the level of douchery required to mock someone for asking an honest question. It’s gotta be high, at least Summer’s Eve or beyond.

        The best part is how your answer is bad. It’s a correct statement but it doesn’t answer their question.

      • recapitated@lemmy.world
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        8 months ago

        That is really mean. You shouldn’t attempt to teach people anything if this is what your mindset is like.