No Mathematical Operators Can Phase Me!

Algebra Level 1

y + y = y y y = y y × y = y y ÷ y = y \large{ \begin{aligned} y \color{#3D99F6} + y &=& y \\ y \color{#D61F06} - y &=& y \\ y \color{#20A900} \times y &=& y \\ y \color{#69047E} \div y &=& y \end{aligned}}

What number(s) satisfy all the four equations above?

0 1 None All imaginary numbers

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2 solutions

Hung Woei Neoh
Jul 16, 2016

y + y = y 2 y = y y = 0 y y = y y = 0 y × y = y y 2 y = 0 y ( y 1 ) = 0 y = 1 , y = 0 y ÷ y = y y = 1 y\color{#3D99F6}{+}y=y \implies 2y=y \implies y=0\\ y\color{#D61F06}-y=y \implies y=0\\ y \color{#20A900}\times y=y \implies y^2-y =0 \implies y(y-1)=0 \implies y=1,\;y=0\\ y \color{#69047E}\div y = y \implies y = 1

We can see that neither 1 1 nor 0 0 satisfies this set of equations.

Now, for imaginary numbers, let us try it with the simplest value: y = i y=i

y + y = i + i = 2 i i y+y=i+i=2i\neq i

y = i y=i does not satisfy one of the equations. Therefore, we have sufficient proof to know that not all imaginary numbers satisfy this set of equations.

The answer is None \boxed{\text{None}}

Relevant wiki: What is 0 divided by 0?

There's no such number that satisfies the conditions. In most of the cases mentioned above in the question "0" does satisfy it for addition, subtraction & multiplication whereas not for division. Because 0/0 is said to be undetermined.

Similarly, in the next case most obvious choice would be 1 for its result in itself for multiplication & division but not for addition & subtraction when and which the answers be 2 & 0 respectively.

Also not all imaginary numbers because for example, if we consider (-1)^(1/2), then it multiplication gives "-1", division does "1", thereby, not satisfying the logic behind. So the answer is "NONE".

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