Statistics

[Tiberius]

He tells us that when it so close to zero, we should just write it as zero.

He's approximating then, which is fine, as long as everyone understands that it isn't actually zero.

What level of education is this by the way? I could understand this being the explanation in high school, but if it's a college professor then he shouldn't be teaching mathematics like that...

[Joel]

College level. Final year.
I understand that it isn't actually zero, but we are taught to write it as zero. (Not even with a ≈)

[Tiberius]

College level. Final year.
I understand that it isn't actually zero, but we are taught to write it as zero. (Not even with a ≈)

I wonder how he would explain away the problem of 1 = 0 (or any other number equaling 0 if that were the case.

If you want to be accurate, you could always write it as:

lim(x->∞) 1/x = 0

That makes sense to have an equals sign, since you're only defining the limit of the function.

[Tex]

THAT'S WHAT I WAS THINKING OF!!!

I needed a limit equation this whole time! That's what I get for doing all my college math in high school: I have forgotten everything. Thank you.