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Which one of these statements is true?

4/3 ≈ 1.3 = 8/6

(i.e. 4/3 ≈ 1.3 and 4/3 = 8/6)

4/3 ≈ 1.3 ≈ 8/6

Edit:

Is this statement true or false?

4/3 ≈ 1.3 ≈ 8/6 = 12/9 = 16/12 ≈ 1 ≈ 1.3 ≈ 4/3

Edit:

This sign ≈ denotes approximation. And this sign = obviously denotes equality.

user37421
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  • Did we (Browning and myself) help you at all? The point you raise, upon more consideration, is an incredibly subtle one - subtle enough that it took us a moment to see what you were even asking. It is also extremely important. I usually don't return to questions to ask this, but I was worried about this one. How do you feel about this now, particularly my comment clarifying what 'false' means? – The Count Jan 01 '17 at 03:55
  • @TheCount You actually answered my question. But I need some kind of proof for the answers. – user37421 Jan 01 '17 at 12:01
  • I'm not sure what that means. Proof of what? – The Count Jan 01 '17 at 16:09
  • @TheCount I mean resources for example. – user37421 Jan 01 '17 at 18:58
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    Well, how do you define the symbol $\approx$? Without a clear definition, there is no way to say if $4/3\approx 1.3$ is true or not. And unfortunately, I don't think there is a precise definition for it. –  Jan 03 '17 at 15:26

2 Answers2

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4/3 ≈ 1.3 ≈ 8/6 = 12/9 = 16/12 ≈ 1 ≈ 1.3 ≈ 4/3 is shorthand for (4/3 ≈ 1.3 and 1.3 ≈ 8/6 and 8/6 = 12/9 and 12/9 = 16/12 and 16/12 ≈ 1 and 1 ≈ 1.3 and 1.3 ≈ 4/3). Your compound statement is true iff each part is true.

Browning
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The second is true. In the second, you wrote that both $4/3$ and $8/6$ are 'close enough for our purposes' to $1.3$. In the first, you have that $1.3=8/6$, which it objectively does not.

I just reread your title. Each and every relative statement, involving $\cong, =, \equiv, ~, \leq$, etc. should be true along the way. Have I resolved your concern?

Edit: Responding to your added portion of your question, I would say that your statement at the end is true, provided you don't mind saying that $1$ is 'close enough' to $1.3$, for example. That very well may be true in some applications, but most people would do a double-take. Although, it is a matter of preference and opinion at that point. Also of note: your final conclusion seems to be that $4/3$ is 'close enough' to itself, which it darn well better be!

The Count
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  • So, they have the precedence from the left to the right. – user37421 Dec 31 '16 at 02:49
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    4/3 ≈ 1.3 = 8/6 is shorthand for the statement (4/3 ≈ 1.3 and 1.3 = 8/6). Since the second part is false, the statement is false. – Browning Dec 31 '16 at 02:55
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    @user37421 no, they don't. consider the statement "numbers are even". even though it is partially true, it is not entirely true, and is therefore false. the statement "the sky is blue, the grass is green, and the sun is purple" would also be considered false. – The Count Dec 31 '16 at 03:37