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  3. A gentle puzzle I was just asked.

A gentle puzzle I was just asked.

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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.

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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:
            A Lightweight Thread Safe In-Memory Keyed Generic Cache Collection Service A Dynamic Where Implementation for Entity Framework

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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.

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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

                        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

                          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!

                              P Offline
                              P Offline
                              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.

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                                      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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                                        • R raddevus

                                          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 Offline
                                          M Offline
                                          MarkTJohnson
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #44

                                          The largest negative integer is the negative integer that is greater than all other negative integers. hence -1. Hopefully this isn't devolving into a political conversation.

                                          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 2 Replies Last reply
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