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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!

    A Offline
    A Offline
    Amarnath S
    wrote on last edited by
    #8

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

    R OriginalGriffO raddevusR L J 6 Replies Last reply
    0
    • Richard Andrew x64R Richard Andrew x64

      Infinity - if you're talking about real numbers.

      The difficult we do right away... ...the impossible takes slightly longer.

      D Offline
      D Offline
      dandy72
      wrote on last edited by
      #9

      If we're talking about whole integers, wouldn't it be minus infinity plus one?

      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!

        Kornfeld Eliyahu PeterK Offline
        Kornfeld Eliyahu PeterK Offline
        Kornfeld Eliyahu Peter
        wrote on last edited by
        #10

        It seems a lot read it wrongly... The art of understanding a question...

        "If builders built buildings the way programmers wrote programs, then the first woodpecker that came along would destroy civilization." ― Gerald Weinberg

        "It never ceases to amaze me that a spacecraft launched in 1977 can be fixed remotely from Earth." ― Brian Cox

        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
          Rage
          wrote on last edited by
          #11

          That was my first shot as well, but the answers above cast a big doubt. I am too naive.

          Do not escape reality : improve reality !

          1 Reply Last reply
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          • Richard Andrew x64R Richard Andrew x64

            Infinity - if you're talking about real numbers.

            The difficult we do right away... ...the impossible takes slightly longer.

            OriginalGriffO Offline
            OriginalGriffO Offline
            OriginalGriff
            wrote on last edited by
            #12

            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!

            "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

            P D 2 Replies Last reply
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            • R Rich Leyshon

              Undefined, tending to infinity???

              OriginalGriffO Offline
              OriginalGriffO Offline
              OriginalGriff
              wrote on last edited by
              #13

              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!

              "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

              R L 2 Replies Last reply
              0
              • A Amarnath S

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

                OriginalGriffO Offline
                OriginalGriffO Offline
                OriginalGriff
                wrote on last edited by
                #14

                Dat's de bunny! :thumbsup: Surprising how many people think -2 is bigger than -1. :-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!

                "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

                B 1 Reply Last reply
                0
                • 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
                  #15

                  Is zero positive?

                  J OriginalGriffO R M M 5 Replies Last reply
                  0
                  • OriginalGriffO OriginalGriff

                    Dat's de bunny! :thumbsup: Surprising how many people think -2 is bigger than -1. :-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!

                    B Offline
                    B Offline
                    Brisingr Aerowing
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #16

                    Also what I got, mostly as I've had to solve this puzzle in multiple math classes, and was usually the only person to get it right (sadly).

                    What do you get when you cross a joke with a rhetorical question? The metaphorical solid rear-end expulsions have impacted the metaphorical motorized bladed rotating air movement mechanism. Do questions with multiple question marks annoy you???

                    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!

                      CPalliniC Offline
                      CPalliniC Offline
                      CPallini
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #17

                      10. Or, possibly, 42.

                      "In testa che avete, Signor di Ceprano?" -- Rigoletto

                      In testa che avete, signor di Ceprano?

                      J 1 Reply Last reply
                      0
                      • P PIEBALDconsult

                        Is zero positive?

                        J Offline
                        J Offline
                        Jeremy Falcon
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #18

                        From a comp sci and data representation perspective, yes. Not sure about the math perspective.

                        Jeremy Falcon

                        OriginalGriffO 1 Reply Last reply
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                        • CPalliniC CPallini

                          10. Or, possibly, 42.

                          "In testa che avete, Signor di Ceprano?" -- Rigoletto

                          J Offline
                          J Offline
                          Jeremy Falcon
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #19

                          It's always 42; we just didn't invent the math yet to get us there.

                          Jeremy Falcon

                          OriginalGriffO 1 Reply Last reply
                          0
                          • J Jeremy Falcon

                            From a comp sci and data representation perspective, yes. Not sure about the math perspective.

                            Jeremy Falcon

                            OriginalGriffO Offline
                            OriginalGriffO Offline
                            OriginalGriff
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #20

                            From a math perspective, zero is neither positive nor negative: Negative number - Wikipedia[^]

                            "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
                            0
                            • P PIEBALDconsult

                              Is zero positive?

                              OriginalGriffO Offline
                              OriginalGriffO Offline
                              OriginalGriff
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #21

                              From a math perspective, zero is neither positive nor negative: Negative number - Wikipedia[^]

                              "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
                              0
                              • J Jeremy Falcon

                                It's always 42; we just didn't invent the math yet to get us there.

                                Jeremy Falcon

                                OriginalGriffO Offline
                                OriginalGriffO Offline
                                OriginalGriff
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #22

                                We did: fractional bases[^] - but it makes my head hurt trying to think of them ... :-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!

                                "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
                                0
                                • P PIEBALDconsult

                                  Is zero positive?

                                  R Offline
                                  R Offline
                                  RainHat
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #23

                                  It can be positive, negative or unsigned depending on the representation and how it is used. Fnu

                                  P 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!

                                    honey the codewitchH Offline
                                    honey the codewitchH 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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                                    • honey the codewitchH 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

                                      P J 2 Replies Last reply
                                      0
                                      • 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.

                                        raddevusR 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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