Gerald Thurman grabbed this sign while browsing the Maple Ash neighborhood in Tempe, Arizona.
Mr. Thurman stacks square roots on top of square roots to create a mathematical pyramid that a high school cheerleading squad would be jealous of.
\sqrt{\sqrt{20 - \sqrt{\sqrt{1600} - 24}}} = 2
This sign is on S. Ash Avenue near W. 10th Street in Tempe, Arizona. See sign on map!
3 responses so far ↓
1 Randy Weiss // Aug 8, 2006 at 10:30 pm
Work it UP from the inside:
sqr (1600) = 40
sqr (1600) - 24 = 16
OK… but don’t take sqr again, do the subtraction first:
( 20 - sqr(1600) - 24) = 4
now only one sqr more = 2
Actual formula should be:
sqr { 20 - [ sqr(1600) - 24 ] } = 2
– Randy Weiss
2 Jamie Thingelstad // Aug 10, 2006 at 10:44 pm
( 20 - sqr(1600) - 24) = 4
Doesn’t that really result in
( 20 - sqr(1600) - 24) = 20 - 40 - 24 = -44
I get -44 not 4.
Hence, Mr. Thurman’s solution stands.
Am I missing something?
3 Jamie Thingelstad // Aug 10, 2006 at 10:47 pm
sqr { 20 - [ sqr(1600) - 24 ] } = 2
This is indeed true. However, Mr. Thurman has simply used additional root functions to get the grouping needed resulting in a higher score and a more beautiful solution. This seems like it’s just a defensive post.
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