this post was submitted on 24 Jul 2024
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Science Memes

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[–] pr06lefs@lemmy.ml 184 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago) (8 children)

What about plain old x = -10?

-10 ^ 2 = 100
-10 ^ 3 = -1000
-10 ^ 5 = -100000

[–] Redacted@lemmy.world 119 points 5 months ago

Isn't that the joke?

[–] Enkers@sh.itjust.works 67 points 5 months ago (1 children)

That's what he wrote, I imagine.

[–] Siethron@lemmy.world 38 points 5 months ago (1 children)

It is, but with imaginary numbets

[–] JackbyDev@programming.dev 47 points 5 months ago

i² = -1 so...

[–] dwindling7373@feddit.it 32 points 5 months ago (1 children)
[–] Abracadaniel@hexbear.net 13 points 5 months ago (1 children)

of course, but this problem is solvable without any understanding of complex numbers, and 10*i^2 is a really clunky, multi-operation expression whereas -10 is just an integer.

simplifying one's answers is standard practice and any grader who received the answer in the OP would be obligated to point out that while technically correct, they're missing the basic fact that the answer is -10.

The Rube Goldberg comment is apt as the solution is absurdly complicated and overengineered for the task it performs.

[–] dwindling7373@feddit.it 1 points 5 months ago

Yes that's what the thing you are looking at is built upon.

[–] thedudeabides@lemmy.dbzer0.com 20 points 5 months ago (1 children)
[–] pr06lefs@lemmy.ml 40 points 5 months ago (1 children)

people being pedantic showoffs doesn't really register as humor for me, TBH

[–] thedudeabides@lemmy.dbzer0.com 14 points 5 months ago

That's true, the OOP is being quite snarky with their comment on a post where someone's had a genuine basic doubt

[–] aaaaaaadjsf@hexbear.net 12 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Yeah exactly you're right, why overcomplicate the problem like the Reddit comment did? I guess that's just typical Reddit thinking that being pendantic and using lots of fancy words and long explanations makes you smart.

[–] Krauerking@lemy.lol 3 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Nah just boiler plate autism.

[–] Deconceptualist@lemm.ee 10 points 5 months ago

That was my immediate thought too.

[–] Sphks@lemmy.dbzer0.com 5 points 5 months ago