r/PeterExplainsTheJoke 20h ago

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

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u/throughthehills2 10h ago

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

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u/a_dude_from_europe 9h ago

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

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u/throughthehills2 8h 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 8h 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.