If I cut something into 3 equal pieces, there are 3 defined pieces. But, 1÷3= .333333~. Why is the math a nonstop repeating decimal when existence allows 3 pieces? Is the assumption that it’s physically impossible to cut something into 3 perfectly even pieces?

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If I cut something into 3 equal pieces, there are 3 defined pieces. But, 1÷3= .333333~. Why is the math a nonstop repeating decimal when existence allows 3 pieces? Is the assumption that it’s physically impossible to cut something into 3 perfectly even pieces?

In: Mathematics

41 Answers

Anonymous 0 Comments

* The problem isn’t math.
* The problem isn’t the laws of nature either.
* It’s just a quirk of the number system we invented.
* Imagine this:
* You have 10 marbles.
* Using all 10 marbles, make three equal groups.
* You can’t since if you did three groups of three you still have a marble left over.
* Now imagine each marble is made up of 10 smaller marbles stuck together.
* Now try it again. You still can’t do it because you’d still have one of those smaller marbles left over.
* Now image you had 9 marbles instead.
* You can easily split those up in to three equal groups.
* But what if you had to split them into two groups?
* You can’t because you’d still have a marble left over.
* What if each marble was really a group of 9 marbles stuck together that could be broken apart?
* You still have the same issue of a marble left over.
* With any number system (Base 10, Base 9, Base Whatever) you’re going to run into numbers that are hard to represent cleanly

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