The More You Know: The number 1’s hidden identity
Posted By: Sally Vox
Filed Under: Opinion on February 17, 2011
The number 1 is the Bruce Wayne of the mathematical world. It’s the first number we learn as a child, it’s the first birthday we have. You place first when you win. It parades itself around in the daylight as the big numero uno, the big shot of numeropolis. It drives around in the best bentley, driven by less popular numbers, perhaps number 6 or 8 (not 7, as he is in prison for eating 9). But at night, watch out criminals. 1 dons the cape of 0.999…(repeating decimal) they are one and the same. Don’t believe me? Check it:
x= 0.999…
10x=9.999…
10x-x=9.999…-0.999…
9x=9
x=1
Oh shit, it’s like I whacked Clark Kent’s glasses off in front of Lois Lane. Don’t worry number 1, we’ll keep your secret. Just hook it up with “69”, I hear she does crazy things in bed.
-SV
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