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Far too long since I did this kind of maths... but I'm going to have to agree with the consensus that it is unsolvable - until a real mathematician steps in... It does seem that the closer x approaches positive or negative infinity, the closer the equation comes to solved though (but never actually makes it...) I guess I too will have to leave this to better minds

Cant resolve it either, perhaps the typo hypothesis is correct.

Correct answer was "no solution," i asked the professor today.

Thanks guys!

culsandar wrote:Correct answer was "no solution," i asked the professor today.

Thanks guys!

Well I did say the answer in one of my posts.I even did the work

Pretty much everyone who posted did that Asherian, it wasn't hard.

Glad to see you sorted it OP.

Corpsesarefun wrote:Pretty much everyone who posted did that Asherian, it wasn't hard.

Glad to see you sorted it OP.

I know. Just no thank you. *cries*
oh well. Time to kill daemons.

Pancake. That's the answer.

Alls well that ends well.

Corpsesarefun wrote:

Avatar 720 wrote:After consulting one of my friends who is awesome at maths, we've agreed that there is absolutely no solution, even with imaginary numbers (well, he told me that part, I just agreed because I trust his knowledge and capabilities, considering that he's attending Imperial College and that I know how good he is at maths).

Slap your tutor with a white glove and challenge him to a duel!

Imaginary numbers aren't that confusing really, i is just the square root of minus one and 2i is the square root of minus 4 etc. This is really basic algaebra so there is no need for imaginary numbers, they only really come into play with simple algebra when you get equations with x^2 (x squared) or higher powers of x.

It is actually defined as i^2 = -1

And 2i isn't the square root of -4, but 2 x the square root of -1...

Surely 2i is just 2root(-1). Didnt think you could combine roots like that.

Vitruvian XVII wrote:Surely 2i is just 2root(-1). Didnt think you could combine roots like that.

2 * sqrt(-1) = sqrt(4) * sqrt(-1) = sqrt(-4)

This is why i dislike complex numbers! However in my brain they're really easy in polar coordinates.

2i is 2 sqrt(-1)

Sqrt(4) x sqrt(-1) is 2i too, and having just sat and looked at it, it does indeed combine to sqrt(-4).

My bad.

Vitruvian XVII wrote:This is why i dislike complex numbers! However in my brain they're really easy in polar coordinates.

I don't think they're that difficult. Just treat it as any other variable. Only when you raise them to some power do you actually have to worry about the fact that i = (-1)^1/2

SilverMK2 wrote:Sqrt(4) x sqrt(-1) is 2i too, and having just sat and looked at it, it does indeed combine to sqrt(-4).

It's all so much easier with exponents. Roots are silly and should not be used.

When did this thread stop being in English?

SilverMK2 wrote:

Corpsesarefun wrote:

Avatar 720 wrote:After consulting one of my friends who is awesome at maths, we've agreed that there is absolutely no solution, even with imaginary numbers (well, he told me that part, I just agreed because I trust his knowledge and capabilities, considering that he's attending Imperial College and that I know how good he is at maths).

Slap your tutor with a white glove and challenge him to a duel!

Imaginary numbers aren't that confusing really, i is just the square root of minus one and 2i is the square root of minus 4 etc. This is really basic algaebra so there is no need for imaginary numbers, they only really come into play with simple algebra when you get equations with x^2 (x squared) or higher powers of x.

It is actually defined as i^2 = -1

And 2i isn't the square root of -4, but 2 x the square root of -1...

OK the square root of minus one is technically plus or minus i but the gist is the same.

Impossible solution-it could be a typo. Of course, back in school for things like this we wrote "DNE"-does not exist. Which is ACTUALLY an acceptable answer for questions like this. So you have two options-if you are going through algebra that allows for the answer "DNE," you have your answer. If that isn't an option, it's a typo. Non-answerable questions DO exist in math books as teachers want students to experience them.