• definitemaybe@lemmy.ca
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    8
    ·
    edit-2
    2 days ago

    I assume you’re nerd baiting* with that, but it’s infuriating how many math teachers actually teach that.

    It’s not that complicated. x² = n isn’t the same thing as x = √2 because then square rooting isn’t a function, which is asinine. (Similarly to why 0! isn’t defined to be 0, because otherwise it’s a stupid notation that would need a piecewise function definition for just about every single application of the factorial function.)

    *link to xkcd: Duty Calls

    Edit: my phone autocorrected “isn’t” to “is”, lol.

    • Quibblekrust@thelemmy.club
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      1
      ·
      2 days ago

      x² = n isn’t the same thing as x = √2

      I guess that’s what I was thinking. I don’t think I can even blame my math teachers.