Re: MATH/COMP/PHIL: "Omega Man"

From: Dan Fabulich (daniel.fabulich@yale.edu)
Date: Tue Apr 03 2001 - 02:52:39 MDT


Spike Jones wrote:

> > > > "a^2 + b^2 = c^2 + 1".
> > >
> > spike Jones wrote: > By inspection this has infinitely many solutions.
>
> Dan Fabulich wrote:
>
> > But *which* solutions? Can you come up with a function for a, b and c
> > such that they'll always satisfy this equation?
>
> Sure: a = +/-1, b = +/- c,
> or: b = +/-1, a = +/- c

Er, duh. I forgot the completeness requirement.

So, does this formula capture all of the solutions? Or just some of
them? I want the one that generates all of the solutions.

> > That's what's meant by a "solution" here.
>
> Dan, perhaps Ive misunderstood the question? spike

No, I'd just forgotten the important part. ;)

-Dan

      -unless you love someone-
    -nothing else makes any sense-
           e.e. cummings



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