yet another math problem - a simple one

[Lost User]

x - y + 1 - x + y - 1 + x - y + 1 - x + y - 1 +.....oO = ? ( oO = infinity, x > 0, y > 0, 1 > 0) no paper or pencil please time assigned : 0 seconds (that's more time than it takes to transfer a huge file over the web)

[David Wulff]

x = 4 y = .5 Don't ask me how I calculated them 'cause I didn't - I guessed. I need to feel intellectual every now an again. :-D ____________________ David Wulff hu·mour Pronunciation Key (hymr) n. & v. Chiefly British Dave's Code Project Screensaver and Wallpaper page.

[Jamie Hale]

Ooooo tricky. J I am Jack's complete lack of surprise.

[Rohit Sinha]

x - y + 1 - x + y - 1 + x - y + 1 - x + y - 1 +.....oO = 0    Peace and hallelujah,           impuzible

[Simon Walton]

Is the answer "error"? Simon I need your clothes, your boots, and your copy of VS.NET. Sonork ID 100.10024

[ColinDavies]

I agree, although I can't solve or explain it. :-( Regardz Colin J Davies

Sonork ID 100.9197:Colin

More about me :-)

[Lost User]

4 and .5 hold good as values of x and y as any other values but the badly :-O put question is what is the sum of the series? :)

[Lost User]

That's one correct answer. Good. There are more of 'em.:)

[Rohit Sinha]

x - y + 1 - x + y - 1 + x - y + 1 - x + y - 1 +.....oO = (x - y + 1) - (x - y + 1) + (x - y + 1) - (x - y + 1) + ...oO = [(x - y + 1) - (x - y + 1)] + [(x - y + 1) - (x - y + 1)] + ...oO = 0 + 0 + ..oO == 0    Peace and hallelujah,           impuzible

[Lost User]

Simon Walton wrote: Is the answer "error"? nope:)

[Lost User]

True, a simple problem made tricky.

[Simon Walton]

Listen, my calculator cannot be wrong. Simon I need your clothes, your boots, and your copy of VS.NET. Sonork ID 100.10024

[Lost User]

Simon Walton wrote: Listen, my calculator cannot be wrong. True it can't be wrong but at times, it approximates solutions to 'Error':)

[Lost User]

0 x x-y x-y + 1 -y + 1 1 It's like the series 1-1+1-1+... that sums to 1 or 0.