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  3. A gentle puzzle I was just asked.

A gentle puzzle I was just asked.

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  • OriginalGriffO OriginalGriff

    What is the smallest positive integer minus the largest negative integer?

    "I have no idea what I did, but I'm taking full credit for it." - ThisOldTony "Common sense is so rare these days, it should be classified as a super power" - Random T-shirt AntiTwitter: @DalekDave is now a follower!

    H Offline
    H Offline
    honey the codewitch
    wrote on last edited by
    #24

    at what bit depth? ;P

    Check out my IoT graphics library here: https://honeythecodewitch.com/gfx And my IoT UI/User Experience library here: https://honeythecodewitch.com/uix

    OriginalGriffO 1 Reply Last reply
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    • H honey the codewitch

      at what bit depth? ;P

      Check out my IoT graphics library here: https://honeythecodewitch.com/gfx And my IoT UI/User Experience library here: https://honeythecodewitch.com/uix

      OriginalGriffO Offline
      OriginalGriffO Offline
      OriginalGriff
      wrote on last edited by
      #25

      Start with two bit signed numbers and work your way up from there ... :-D That always made me laugh - back in the day when CD players were the Bee's Knees they proudly announced the kit contained a "1 bit DA converter" on the adverts (and the player, normally).

      "I have no idea what I did, but I'm taking full credit for it." - ThisOldTony "Common sense is so rare these days, it should be classified as a super power" - Random T-shirt AntiTwitter: @DalekDave is now a follower!

      "I have no idea what I did, but I'm taking full credit for it." - ThisOldTony
      "Common sense is so rare these days, it should be classified as a super power" - Random T-shirt

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      • P PIEBALDconsult

        Is zero positive?

        M Offline
        M Offline
        MarkTJohnson
        wrote on last edited by
        #26

        1 - (-1) = 1+1 = 2

        I’ve given up trying to be calm. However, I am open to feeling slightly less agitated. I’m begging you for the benefit of everyone, don’t be STUPID.

        R 1 Reply Last reply
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        • OriginalGriffO OriginalGriff

          What is the smallest positive integer minus the largest negative integer?

          "I have no idea what I did, but I'm taking full credit for it." - ThisOldTony "Common sense is so rare these days, it should be classified as a super power" - Random T-shirt AntiTwitter: @DalekDave is now a follower!

          M Offline
          M Offline
          Member 11561335
          wrote on last edited by
          #27

          Isn't it just 2? I mean the smallest positive int is 1. The largest negative int is -1. (-1 is bigger than -2) so it's just 1 - (-1) which is 2.

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          • OriginalGriffO OriginalGriff

            What is the smallest positive integer minus the largest negative integer?

            "I have no idea what I did, but I'm taking full credit for it." - ThisOldTony "Common sense is so rare these days, it should be classified as a super power" - Random T-shirt AntiTwitter: @DalekDave is now a follower!

            K Offline
            K Offline
            k5054
            wrote on last edited by
            #28

            The question is ambiguous in terms of what "largest negative" means. In a strict mathematical sense, that number is -1. But in an natural language sense, "largest negative" would mean "most negative". For example, when my bank account hits $-500, I owe a larger amount than when its only $-10!

            "A little song, a little dance, a little seltzer down your pants" Chuckles the clown

            OriginalGriffO J 0 D P 5 Replies Last reply
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            • OriginalGriffO OriginalGriff

              What is the smallest positive integer minus the largest negative integer?

              "I have no idea what I did, but I'm taking full credit for it." - ThisOldTony "Common sense is so rare these days, it should be classified as a super power" - Random T-shirt AntiTwitter: @DalekDave is now a follower!

              M Offline
              M Offline
              Marc Clifton
              wrote on last edited by
              #29

              This is why I hated math word problems. To me, the "largest negative integer" is -infinity because, for example, -3 is "larger" than -2 on the "negative" scale. "Largeness" to me is ambiguous. But my brain works in weird ways when it comes to converting words into math expressions.

              Latest Articles:
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              • K k5054

                The question is ambiguous in terms of what "largest negative" means. In a strict mathematical sense, that number is -1. But in an natural language sense, "largest negative" would mean "most negative". For example, when my bank account hits $-500, I owe a larger amount than when its only $-10!

                "A little song, a little dance, a little seltzer down your pants" Chuckles the clown

                OriginalGriffO Offline
                OriginalGriffO Offline
                OriginalGriff
                wrote on last edited by
                #30

                Yes, you owe a larger amount - which means you have a lower bank balance!

                "I have no idea what I did, but I'm taking full credit for it." - ThisOldTony "Common sense is so rare these days, it should be classified as a super power" - Random T-shirt AntiTwitter: @DalekDave is now a follower!

                "I have no idea what I did, but I'm taking full credit for it." - ThisOldTony
                "Common sense is so rare these days, it should be classified as a super power" - Random T-shirt

                1 Reply Last reply
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                • K k5054

                  The question is ambiguous in terms of what "largest negative" means. In a strict mathematical sense, that number is -1. But in an natural language sense, "largest negative" would mean "most negative". For example, when my bank account hits $-500, I owe a larger amount than when its only $-10!

                  "A little song, a little dance, a little seltzer down your pants" Chuckles the clown

                  J Offline
                  J Offline
                  jschell
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #31

                  k5054 wrote:

                  question is ambiguous in terms

                  I agree. It needs better term definitions to provide a correct answer. But I can see that some of the answers above taking it to mean the question is phrased to taken as a trick question and so rather simple.

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                  • OriginalGriffO OriginalGriff

                    So which is bigger: -1 or -2?

                    "I have no idea what I did, but I'm taking full credit for it." - ThisOldTony "Common sense is so rare these days, it should be classified as a super power" - Random T-shirt AntiTwitter: @DalekDave is now a follower!

                    R Offline
                    R Offline
                    Rich Leyshon
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #32

                    This was the first question that crossed my mind. According to the interweb, it's the size of the absolute value. Maybe it really depends on what the numbers are representing. On a graph, (-2,-2) is a greater distance from the origin than (-1,-1). I would rather reverse my car into a lamp post at -1mph than -20! Of course, doing it the other way round could be a good way out of a speeding fine. If I state I was clocking my speed in a backwards direction then my forward speed would be negative and the further I went above the speed limit, the smaller my speed would be. "Take him down ..."

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                    • K k5054

                      The question is ambiguous in terms of what "largest negative" means. In a strict mathematical sense, that number is -1. But in an natural language sense, "largest negative" would mean "most negative". For example, when my bank account hits $-500, I owe a larger amount than when its only $-10!

                      "A little song, a little dance, a little seltzer down your pants" Chuckles the clown

                      0 Offline
                      0 Offline
                      0x01AA
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #33

                      I think for a programming forum the question is appropriately precise/clearly worded ;) Shame on me, my brain also focused on -Infinity for the largest negative number :-O :laugh:

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                      • OriginalGriffO OriginalGriff

                        What is the smallest positive integer minus the largest negative integer?

                        "I have no idea what I did, but I'm taking full credit for it." - ThisOldTony "Common sense is so rare these days, it should be classified as a super power" - Random T-shirt AntiTwitter: @DalekDave is now a follower!

                        B Offline
                        B Offline
                        BobbyStrain
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #34

                        That would be 0.

                        0 D 2 Replies Last reply
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                        • B BobbyStrain

                          That would be 0.

                          0 Offline
                          0 Offline
                          0x01AA
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #35

                          This certainly implies correctness in the mathematical sense. The consequence for programmers would then also be: 0 == 0: true 0 > 0 : true 0 < 0 :true

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                          • K k5054

                            The question is ambiguous in terms of what "largest negative" means. In a strict mathematical sense, that number is -1. But in an natural language sense, "largest negative" would mean "most negative". For example, when my bank account hits $-500, I owe a larger amount than when its only $-10!

                            "A little song, a little dance, a little seltzer down your pants" Chuckles the clown

                            D Offline
                            D Offline
                            dbrenth
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #36

                            What you OWE is a positive amount. What your bank account is is a negative amount. On the other hand, I keep getting a "bill" from a company for -$.01. I have called and talked to them multiple times, and they keep sending me the bill. Just send me the penny. It would be much cheaper. Brent Hoskisson

                            Brent

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                            • B BobbyStrain

                              That would be 0.

                              D Offline
                              D Offline
                              dbrenth
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #37

                              This was my answer as well. Both the smallest positive and largest negative integers are 0. But I can see the case for both 2 and Infinity. Brent Hoskisson

                              Brent

                              OriginalGriffO 1 Reply Last reply
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                              • OriginalGriffO OriginalGriff

                                Oh? Is -2 bigger than -1 now? :-D

                                "I have no idea what I did, but I'm taking full credit for it." - ThisOldTony "Common sense is so rare these days, it should be classified as a super power" - Random T-shirt AntiTwitter: @DalekDave is now a follower!

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                                PIEBALDconsult
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #38

                                "Bigger"? Yes.

                                1 Reply Last reply
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                                • OriginalGriffO OriginalGriff

                                  Start with two bit signed numbers and work your way up from there ... :-D That always made me laugh - back in the day when CD players were the Bee's Knees they proudly announced the kit contained a "1 bit DA converter" on the adverts (and the player, normally).

                                  "I have no idea what I did, but I'm taking full credit for it." - ThisOldTony "Common sense is so rare these days, it should be classified as a super power" - Random T-shirt AntiTwitter: @DalekDave is now a follower!

                                  P Offline
                                  P Offline
                                  PIEBALDconsult
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #39

                                  OriginalGriff wrote:

                                  when CD players were the Bee's Knees

                                  Ooohhh... and 4X oversampling?

                                  1 Reply Last reply
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                                  • K k5054

                                    The question is ambiguous in terms of what "largest negative" means. In a strict mathematical sense, that number is -1. But in an natural language sense, "largest negative" would mean "most negative". For example, when my bank account hits $-500, I owe a larger amount than when its only $-10!

                                    "A little song, a little dance, a little seltzer down your pants" Chuckles the clown

                                    P Offline
                                    P Offline
                                    PIEBALDconsult
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #40

                                    k5054 wrote:

                                    The question is ambiguous in terms

                                    I agree. It lacks rigor. It ought to use the correct mathematical term -- "GREATER THAN".

                                    1 Reply Last reply
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                                    • OriginalGriffO OriginalGriff

                                      What is the smallest positive integer minus the largest negative integer?

                                      "I have no idea what I did, but I'm taking full credit for it." - ThisOldTony "Common sense is so rare these days, it should be classified as a super power" - Random T-shirt AntiTwitter: @DalekDave is now a follower!

                                      P Offline
                                      P Offline
                                      PIEBALDconsult
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #41

                                      "I reject the premise of the question." -- Leo McGarry

                                      1 Reply Last reply
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                                      • A Amarnath S

                                        Smallest positive integer = 1 Largest negative integer = -1 Difference is 2.

                                        R Offline
                                        R Offline
                                        raddevus
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #42

                                        I agree with you. Here's what chatGPT 3.5 says:

                                        ChatGPT:

                                        There isn't a smallest positive integer or largest negative integer in the mathematical sense, as integers extend infinitely in both positive and negative directions. The set of integers includes all whole numbers, both positive and negative, and extends infinitely in both directions. If you're asking about the difference between the smallest positive integer (1) and the largest negative integer (which doesn't exist), it's not a well-defined mathematical operation. The concept of the "largest negative integer" doesn't have a meaningful value in standard arithmetic. If you have a specific range or context in mind, please provide more details so I can assist you better.

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                                        • M MarkTJohnson

                                          1 - (-1) = 1+1 = 2

                                          I’ve given up trying to be calm. However, I am open to feeling slightly less agitated. I’m begging you for the benefit of everyone, don’t be STUPID.

                                          R Offline
                                          R Offline
                                          raddevus
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #43

                                          Yours is the answer I liked best. Look at what chatGPT 3.5 says:

                                          ChatGPT:

                                          There isn't a smallest positive integer or largest negative integer in the mathematical sense, as integers extend infinitely in both positive and negative directions. The set of integers includes all whole numbers, both positive and negative, and extends infinitely in both directions. If you're asking about the difference between the smallest positive integer (1) and the largest negative integer (which doesn't exist), it's not a well-defined mathematical operation. The concept of the "largest negative integer" doesn't have a meaningful value in standard arithmetic. If you have a specific range or context in mind, please provide more details so I can assist you better.

                                          M 1 Reply Last reply
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