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Old 01-31-2008, 05:22 AM  
Linguist
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Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Toronto, ON
Posts: 1,706
Quote:
Originally Posted by ADL Colin View Post
You can use simple algebra and be accurate. Just assume all the .33333's are repeating.

Let x = .33333+.33333+.33333 = 3(.33333...)
10x = 3*(3.33333) ; multiply both sides by 10.

Subtract the first term from the first and solve for x.

(10x-x) = 3*(3.33333)-3*(.33333)
9x = 3(3.33333-.33333)
9x = 3 (3)
9x = 9
x = 1
You can use those subtraction tricks in the same way as you'd use a Turing machine to write computer programs... the question is - why? Fractions are much easier to work with than decimals
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