The (completely unofficial) "Questions that can't be Answered" thread..

  • Thread starter Thread starter Flerbizky
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Why do people care so much when people drive the wrong way down a motorway?

It's not like they aren't in control of their vehicle.
 
Who wrote the book of love?

Actually, according to L'Hopital's Rule: 32 ÷ 0 = ∞

Since zero is a concept that represents an infintessimal (very small) number, division by a very small number (much less than 1, but more than nothing) would give you a very large number (almost infinity). By following this trend, you can deduce that a number that approaches zero in sequence would result in an infinite number.

Also,

0 ÷ 0 = 1
∞ ÷ ∞ = 1
etc.

Other things like 0 raised to any number (including infinity) would equal zero, with the exception of 0 raised the zeroth power. Any number raised to the zeroth power would equal 1, although I don't remember the proof for that.

(Feel free to puch holes in what I've learned, it's been many years since I took calculus, and my knowledge of it collects as much dust as the textbooks I used.)
 
pupik
Who wrote the book of love?

Actually, according to L'Hopital's Rule: 32 ÷ 0 = ∞

Since zero is a concept that represents an infintessimal (very small) number, division by a very small number (much less than 1, but more than nothing) would give you a very large number (almost infinity). By following this trend, you can deduce that a number that approaches zero in sequence would result in an infinite number.

Also,

0 ÷ 0 = 1
∞ ÷ ∞ = 1
etc.

Other things like 0 raised to any number (including infinity) would equal zero, with the exception of 0 raised the zeroth power. Any number raised to the zeroth power would equal 1, although I don't remember the proof for that.

(Feel free to puch holes in what I've learned, it's been many years since I took calculus, and my knowledge of it collects as much dust as the textbooks I used.)
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Only very small holes :)

L'Hopital's rule is used when you have a limit. So, the limit of (n+1)/(n+2) as n approaches infinity is an example. In this case, you get ∞/∞. Using l'Hopital, you get 1. But, if it was (n+1)/(n^2+2), then l'Hopital would give you 0 for your ∞/∞ (the bottom infinity is squared, so it's the bigger one, it approaches infinity faster).

With our 32/0, you can't directly apply l'Hopital. Actually, you don't really need to. 32/0 is indefinite, but the limit of 32/n as n approaches 0 is infinity.
 
GT_Fan2005
Whats the meaning of life?
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daan
And 42
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Touring Mars
42
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shopping_carts_
42
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All wrong. The answer to the Great Question of Life, the Universe and Everything is 42 (although they never actually found out what the question was). The Meaning of Life was never asked.

evilgenius788
If you tried to fail but succeeded, what did you just do?
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Got it wrong.

den brakke
If today's temperature is 0° Celcius and tomorow it's gona be twice as cold, how cold will it be?
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Too cold.

ExigeExcel
Without knowing the gender what is the singular for sheep?
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Sheep. One sheep or many sheep. It's all the same.
 
ExigeExcel
Look at the dogs. (pl)
Look at the dog. (s)

Look at the sheep. (pl)
Look at the sheep. (s)

Yeah, all the same :rolleyes:
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Before bed, Exige, I must explain this to you.

In any English dictionary, it says that the word "sheep" is the same whether in singular or plural. It is a quirk of the English language. Nothing more.

I admit, it's odd, but so is English. Who invented all those stupid rules? :yuck:
 
Same with fish. And deer.

But what's the correct plural of "Octopus"?

(this CAN be answered - and I already know the answer [as does daan, as a consquence] - but I just want to see a bit of squirming).
 
Famine
Same with fish. And deer.

But what's the correct plural of "Octopus"?

(this CAN be answered - and I already know the answer [as does daan, as a consquence] - but I just want to see a bit of squirming).
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Easy, isn't it octopi?

Nice to see you yet again, Famine. I was reading that old Creationism v. Evolution thread.

I made some "Intelligent Design" guys very, very uncomfortable (quoting you, of course). :trouble:
 
Always nice to be missed... :D

And no - that's the only (sensible) answer it isn't.


Oddly, the singular-is-plural rule isn't limited to animals either. The plural of cannon is cannon.
 
Famine
Always nice to be missed... :D

And no - that's the only (sensible) answer it isn't.


Oddly, the singular-is-plural rule isn't limited to animals either. The plural of cannon is cannon.
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Oh right! *slaps forehead*

Why is English so strange?

(And yes Famine, I do in fact know why; that was a rhetorical question.)
:crazy:
 
The rule for -us words is that Latin-originating words (example: hippopotamus) become -i when pluralised. Greek-originating words (example: octopus) become -uses when pluralised. Made-up words (example: Lexus) become whatever the person who made it up wants it to become.

But, technically the correct plural of octopus isn't octopuses either.
 
Famine
The rule for -us words is that Latin-originating words (example: hippopotamus) become -i when pluralised. Greek-originating words (example: octopus) become -uses when pluralised. Made-up words (example: Lexus) become whatever the person who made it up wants it to become.

But, technically the correct plural of octopus isn't octopuses either.
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So they're mutually exclusive; neither one is correct?
 
You'd be wrong if you said octopi. You'd be right if you said octopuses - though you'd be incorrect, almost no-one would know and it is accepted in English. It's just a peculiarity of the original Greek word - or rather words.
 

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