ChatterBank4 mins ago
Sunday Express Magazine
11 Answers
We cannot confirm the last one anywhere! 4. down 'A Rational Number that can be expressed as the sum or difference of a finite number of units'
seven letter I - - E - E
Is it Indexer?
seven letter I - - E - E
Is it Indexer?
Answers
Best Answer
No best answer has yet been selected by Chris&Wendy. Once a best answer has been selected, it will be shown here.
For more on marking an answer as the "Best Answer", please visit our FAQ.It is all I can come up with too. Not being a mathematician either, but does this help at all.
http://www.onelook.com/?loc=rescb&w=integer
http://www.onelook.com/?loc=rescb&w=integer
Yep, I'd go with 'Integer'. An integer is a rational number, as opposed to complex number and if it is expressed as the sum or difference of finite units, it must itself be a finite unit. Having said that, i'm assuming the crossword setter is defining a finite unit as an integer. Perhaps he/she isn't a mathematician either!
My background is in mathematics and I don't relate to the clue, but I reckon that the answer is INTEGER.
A rational number is one which can be expressed as a ratio such as 7/3. An integer can be expressed in this form since 7 = 7/1, but it is unnecessary to do so!
A better clue would have been "A real number that can describe a finite number of units: a whole number"
A rational number is one which can be expressed as a ratio such as 7/3. An integer can be expressed in this form since 7 = 7/1, but it is unnecessary to do so!
A better clue would have been "A real number that can describe a finite number of units: a whole number"
It's just occurred to me that the reason that such a convoluted clue has been given for INTEGER is to cover negative values and zero.
The numbers that we all learn to count with are called the Natural Numbers = {1,2,3,4,...};
however the set of Integers = { ...,-2,-1,0,1,2, ...}.
In order to define these WITHOUT using the concept of a minus sign leads to the wording as adopted in your clue.
Sorry if the answer is as convoluted as the clue itself!
The numbers that we all learn to count with are called the Natural Numbers = {1,2,3,4,...};
however the set of Integers = { ...,-2,-1,0,1,2, ...}.
In order to define these WITHOUT using the concept of a minus sign leads to the wording as adopted in your clue.
Sorry if the answer is as convoluted as the clue itself!