A simple question...

[Entity]

An archer shoots an arrow at a target 100 yards away; for every second that passes, the arrow covers half of the remaining distance.

At what point does the arrow hit the target?

Rob

 

[Thanatopsis]

Never.

 

[guyver01]

well.. logically, never,
realistically. however..

1=100
2=50
3=25
4=12.5
5=6.25
6=3.125
7=1.5625
8=0.78125
9=0.390625
10=0.1953125
11=0.09765625
12=0.048828125
13=0.0244140625
14=0.01220703125
15=0.006103515625
and by this time i'd say it hit

 

[KameLeon]

I heard something about trying to reach a door talkin half steps of the distance or some sh!t and you'll never actually reach the door... in my calc class...ok i started rambling ..lol
same idea..hehe.. never

 

[Entity]

Your senses deceive you, then? An hour later, the arrow is firmly embedded in the target; yet logic (and mathematics) would insist that the arrow never arrived.

(This is in light of the recent truth/define 1/etc. posts out there; how will all of you neopythagoreans respond to the deception your beloved math provides you with?).

If, in the case that guver01 has laid out, the arrow mathematically never hits the target; either math or our senses have deceived us. Which is it?

Rob

 

[Zoltar]

The answer is:

Who gives a fsck!

 

[UG]

<...At what point does the arrow hit the target?..>

The very point of the arrow head.

 

[shiznut123]

LMAO UG!!!!

 

You can divide by 2 infinatly.
Its a trick question.

 

[gnognugs]

Entity
Are you a Gideon or something?

 

[thEnEuRoMancER]

This is a variation of Achiles &amp; turtle paradox, exploiting the fact that infinitesimal math and human senses don't mix well together.

 

[Entity]

<< Are you a Gideon or something? >>



Far from it. I am an Entity.

Rob

 

[Entity]

<< This is a variation of Achiles &amp; turtle paradox, exploiting the fact that infinitesimal math and human senses don't mix well together. >>



Yup. In my initial post, I noted that, but I wanted to see the responses of AT'ers without concerning themselves with the intellectual background of the question.

Rob

 

[Entity]

<< You can divide by 2 infinatly.
Its a trick question. >>



It's not meant to provide an honest mathematical question, Sammy.

Rob

 

[bolomite]

No, I believe it's called Xeno's (or was it Zeno's) paradox.

Thank goodness for convergence of infinite series!

 

[Entity]

bolomite,

It's Xeno's paradox, but it features Achilles chasing a turtle in the original.

Rob