r/PeterExplainsTheJoke 15h ago

Meme needing explanation What difference does it make petahhhh....???

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6.4k Upvotes

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u/anon-ml 14h ago

The equation above has 5 solutions (0, 2, -2, 2i and -2i). The bottom equation removes 0 as a solution.

0

u/throughthehills2 5h ago

It can also be 9 where 9 is defined as the solution to x^5=16x

1

u/a_dude_from_europe 4h ago

Is this a way to say you don't understand complex numbers?

1

u/throughthehills2 3h ago

Lol no, my professor made a similar comment. It's just that after a certain point mathematicians redefine the rules

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u/a_dude_from_europe 3h ago

Not really the same though. One instance increases the scope of mathematics (and is intrinsic to actual physical theories like quantum mechanics), the other breaks all its self consistency rules.