why would you do that? that the same as saying let u^2 = (4 -x)... but why do that when you can just let u = (4 -x)?Originally Posted by ~ Rench ~
Or let x=4-u^2
yeah of course not. there are many elegant and differing methods of solving many maths problems. but for such an "easy" school-level problem, why strive to make life difficult for yourself? mathematics is best viewed in simplicity and elegance.Originally Posted by Slide_Rule
Why not? Maths ain't black and white. Sort of.
man ur vocab is damn good lolwho_loves_maths said:yeah of course not. there are many elegant and differing methods of solving many maths problems. but for such an "easy" school-level problem, why strive to make life difficult for yourself? mathematics is best viewed in simplicity and elegance.
also, i was specifically refering to it in the context of 4u maths. in a test or exam, one would not gratuitously seek difficult ways of solving a problem when there exists a simpler method.
lol? what vocab? every word in my last post are commonplace and ubiquitous.Originally Posted by FinalFantasy
man ur vocab is damn good lol
wat lvl english do u do?
LoL! just in this post.. the word "ubiquitous" is not "common.."... well not to me anyway! hahahawho_loves_maths said:lol? what vocab? every word in my last post are commonplace and ubiquitous.
I just thought I would suggest it. When it comes to exam time, you're not always going to remember the appropriate substitution...or at least the one that is most efficient. And as others have said, why not? It doesn't make it any more difficult.who_loves_maths said:why would you do that? that the same as saying let u^2 = (4 -x)... but why do that when you can just let u = (4 -x)?
Elegance is a skill in maths turtle. No harm in having an elegant solution.turtle_2468 said:I guess u=4-x is slightly more intuitive plus it saves ugliness in the substitution bit (only du=-dx). But slide rule does have a point, both work.. and in the 4U exam particularly, no matter how ugly the solution as long as it's right you'll get full marks for it.. (most maths exams in fact )