A gentle puzzle I was just asked.
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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!
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.
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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
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!
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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
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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!
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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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
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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!
That would be 0.
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That would be 0.
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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 $-10!
"A little song, a little dance, a little seltzer down your pants" Chuckles the clown
What you OWE is a positive amount. What your bank account is is a negative amount. On the other hand, I keep getting a "bill" from a company for -$.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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That would be 0.
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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!
"Bigger"? Yes.
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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!
OriginalGriff wrote:
when CD players were the Bee's Knees
Ooohhh... and 4X oversampling?
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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
k5054 wrote:
The question is ambiguous in terms
I agree. It lacks rigor. It ought to use the correct mathematical term -- "GREATER THAN".
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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!
"I reject the premise of the question." -- Leo McGarry
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Smallest positive integer = 1 Largest negative integer = -1 Difference is 2.
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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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.
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.
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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.
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.
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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.
MarkTJohnson wrote:
The largest negative integer is the negative integer that is greater than all other negative integers.
I thought the same thing. Also, isn't it interesting that on the other side of 0 that no one had a problem distinguishing the smallest positive integer : which is 1. Aren't all numbers greater than others when the are further to the right of other numbers? Also, do these people not believe that following are true? -5000 < -1 -1 > -5000 Then why don't they know that the largest negative integer is -1?
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Which one is true? 1. -Infinity > -1 2. -1 > -Infinity JavaScript says that the first is false and second is true -- see snapshot[^]. Pretty sure that JS has the definitive answer, since it's the Best Programming Language ever! :rolleyes: Sorry, just trolling all programming nerds. :laugh: But seriously, don't you think that is right?
Number.NEGATIVE_INFINITY > -1 // false
Number.NEGATIVE_INFINITY < -1 // true// a little clearer about my meaning
-1 > Number.NEGATIVE_INFINITY // TRUESo largest negative integer = -1 :)
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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.
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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!
