Misplaced Pages

Revision as of 18:05, 14 February 2006

Because of their length, the previous discussions on this page have been archived. If further archiving is needed, see Misplaced Pages:How to archive a talk page.

Previous discussions:

• Archive 1 (2005-05-06 to 2005-11-16)
• Archive 2 (2005-11-16 to 2005-12-07)
• Archive 3 (2005-12-07 to 2005-12-09)
• Archive 4 (2005-12-09 to 2005-12-20)
• Archive 5 (2005-12-18 to 2006-02-11)

Archive 5

The talk page had grown to 140k, far over the recommended limit. It has been archived. Please limit future discussions to relevant topics, as described at Misplaced Pages:Talk pages. Note especially the following guidance:

• Wikipedians generally oppose the use of talk pages just for the purpose of partisan talk about the main subject. Misplaced Pages is not a soapbox; it's an encyclopedia. In other words, talk about the article, not about the subject.

Also please observe the rules stated there about signing, formatting, and civility. Thank you. --KSmrq 19:27, 11 February 2006 (UTC)

I do appreciate that, although when the dispute is over the fundamental basis of the article (you can't accept a proof for something that is false) I think there is reason to debate it. Also, I think you need to check the advice on Misplaced Pages:How to archive a talk page where it says Regardless of which method you choose, you should leave current, ongoing discussions on the existing talk page. I would point out that the last 5 or so sections on the talk page had had contributions (including several significant ones) in the past two days, which I would count as "ongoing". Unless I see a reasonable argument to the contrary, I will soon return the sections from "What is wrong with this discussion?" onwards to the main talk page. Confusing Manifestation 11:44, 12 February 2006 (UTC)

Ordinarily, and in the past here, I have left dangling discussions. However, the perpetual discussions on this page rarely even mention the article itself, and a review of the archives shows that such a pattern of violating the purpose of the talk page is likely to continue unchecked no matter what the starting point. There has been no significant contribution to improving the article. Frankly, this needs to stop, or move to a chat room. One can always hope. --KSmrq 13:47, 12 February 2006 (UTC)

We could try setting up a free speech zone outside of the talk page. Seriously. Something like Talk:Proof that 0.999... equals 1/Off topic... Melchoir 20:38, 12 February 2006 (UTC)

Speaking of staying on topic: I sympathize with ConMan's points but I disagree. KSmrq may have violated the recommendations at WP:ARCHIVE, but it was the right call. In fact, there were no protected "ongoing discussions", since they didn't concern the article. And no, there is no dispute over the fundamental basis of the article here; there is only a mockery of a mathematics classroom for the obstinate, and we don't need to support those to write an encyclopedia.

Even if the IPs did have a point, talk pages are not for conducting original research on alternate theories of mathematics. Let them hash it out on Everything2 and Usenet; let them write their viewpoint on Uncyclopedia, where it belongs. If they're right, let them publish first. But the crap has interrupted too many actual content debates, and that hurts the encyclopedia; any method of discouraging it is fine with me. Melchoir 21:02, 12 February 2006 (UTC)

Why this article is nonsense.

Saying that 0.999... is exactly equal to 1 is like saying 3.14... is exactly equal to pi. Does the latter statement make any sense? 158.35.225.229 16:20, 13 February 2006 (UTC)

The difference between 3.14... and 0.999... is that it is not clear what 3.14... means, whereas 0.999... can be used to clearly identify an infinite decimal expansion. I personally don't like the notation 0.999... very much, but it is clear that if it, or 0.9(rec) or anything with that meaning, is used to represent a real number, that number must be 1. JPD (talk) 11:31, 14 February 2006 (UTC)

Nonsense. Nothing is clear about 0.999... and it is very clear what 3.14... means (some series expanion for pi). What this is saying is that it makes no sense to set 0.999... equal to 1 when you can't find a limiting value for pi. 68.238.109.124 14:06, 14 February 2006 (UTC)

Why is it clear that 3.14... means some expansion of pi? It could mean 3.14141414... or something like that. Pi is a real number - what do you mean by a limiting value for it? I am more and more convinced that the article should have something near the beginning about exactly what is meant by the notation 0.999... JPD (talk) 14:28, 14 February 2006 (UTC)

The article does say exactly what is meant by 0.9999...: A recurring decimal. Should that be expanded and repeat the definition of a recurring decimal? I don't think so. Huon 18:05, 14 February 2006 (UTC)