Math Magicians
Trick brain teasers appear difficult at first, but they have a trick that makes them really easy.
An infinite number of mathematicians are standing behind a bar. The first asks the barman for half a pint of beer, the second for a quarter pint, the third an eighth, and so on. How many pints of beer will the barman need to fulfill all mathematicians' wishes?
Answer
Just 1. Add 'em up!
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Comments
YJunjie
Jan 25, 2012
| It's a very tiny bit lesser than 1.
1/2+1/4+1/8+1/16+1/32+1/64+1/128
No matter how much we add up, they always will be lesser than 1. I hope you get what I mean. |
firefox99   
Jan 25, 2012
| Yes, good point - but technically, the answer is still one. If you just keep adding up 1/2+1/4+1/8+1/16.... and don't stop adding, the gap between one and the answer will get "infinitely small," and since infinity is an undefinable number that goes on forever, there is essentially no gap between the answer and one. Check here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ 1/2_%2B_1/4_%2B_ 1/8_%2B_1/16_%2B_%C2%B7_%C2%B7_%C2%B7 |
firefox99
Jan 25, 2012
| Kinda how 0.999999... =1. |
wolfpackw2 
Feb 03, 2012
| Sorry, but that is incorrect. It approaches 1, but never reaches 1. That is like saying 1/1.0E100 = 0 (since it is very, very close to 0). But if you multiply both sides by 1.0E100, then you get 1=0. Obviously, that is not a true statement. If you plot y=1/x on a graph, you will see that as x gets smaller, it approaches the y axis, but it will never, ever reach it. |
oddrey
Feb 19, 2012
| It is correct! Take an integral and you get one! |
Zag24 
Feb 23, 2012
| Wolfpack and Yjunie, you need to take calculus. Also, read about Xeno's paradox. Yes, Achilles DOES catch the tortoise, 0.999... DOES exactly equal 1, as does the sum as n goes from 1 to infinity of 1 / 2^n.
To paraphrase Xeno, imagine yourself walking to your calculus class. At some point, you'll be half way there. At a later point, you'll be half of what's remaining. At a later point, you'll be half of what's remaining. In fact, you could describe your whole trip as the infinite sum. And guess what? You'll actually get there!! |
dalfamnest
Feb 24, 2012
| Apart from the mathematical points being debated, this is in the wrong category. It is genuine math, not a trick!  |
Candi7  
Jun 12, 2012
| He doesn't even need one. He needs thenumberthatisinfinetelyclosetoonebutnotone pints. |
Gbdf 
Sep 28, 2012
| If I calculated, the answer will be 0.9999999999999999999...... And nobody would take that little amount away to give to their customers, so common sense, we will round it up to 1.(I'm referring to those stingy bartenders.) |
spikethru4 
Dec 03, 2012
| Gbdf,, 0.9 recurring is equal to one - not 'a tiny bit less'. Consider this:
Let x = 0.9rec
Then 10x = 9.9rec
(10x - x) = (9.9rec - 0.9rec)
So 9x = 9 (the recurring decimals cancel off exactly)
Therefore 0.9rec = x = 1
A finite number of 9s - however large - after the decimal point is always a tiny bit less than 1. An infinite number of 9s closes the gap.
Of course in this teaser, the barman would not have to pour any beer, as he would die of old age before he'd taken everyone's order. ;) |
sashomarine
Mar 29, 2013
| Nice! I found this one quite easy. It's a fun one, though. |
sonic102 
Apr 28, 2013
| Shouldn't this be Maths? |
Leadsinger
May 20, 2013
| Agreed, if there are infinite mathmeticians the answer will always be less than 1. |
spikethru4
May 21, 2013
| No, Leadsinger, exactly 1. See my explanation above. |
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