Difference between revisions of "The Apple Method"

(The pear method)
(Extensions)
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===The pear method===
 
===The pear method===
 
When more than one variable is needed, pears, bananas, etc. are usually used.
 
When more than one variable is needed, pears, bananas, etc. are usually used.
 +
===Why Apple?===
 +
When you use the Apple Method, you can box what you are substituting with the apple. When you use <math>x</math> as a substitution, instead of actually boxing it, you are just crossing it out.

Revision as of 01:56, 6 May 2020

The Apple Method is a method for solving algebra problems. An apple is used to make a clever algebraic substitution.

Examples

1. Evaluate: \[\sqrt{6+\sqrt{6+\sqrt{6+\cdots}}}\]

$\emph{Solution:}$

If we set $\textcolor{red}{(\textcolor{green}{^{^(}})}=\sqrt{6+\sqrt{6+\sqrt{6+\cdots}}}$, we can see that $\textcolor{red}{(\textcolor{green}{^{^(}})}^2= 6+\textcolor{red}{(\textcolor{green}{^{^(}})}$.

Solving, we get $\textcolor{red}{(\textcolor{green}{^{^(}})}=\boxed{3}$

2. If \[\sqrt{x\cdot\sqrt{x\cdot\sqrt{x\cdots}}} = 5\]Find x.

3. Evaluate: \[\frac{1^2+2^2+3^2+\cdots}{1^2+3^3+5^2+\cdots}\]

Extensions

The pear method

When more than one variable is needed, pears, bananas, etc. are usually used.

Why Apple?

When you use the Apple Method, you can box what you are substituting with the apple. When you use $x$ as a substitution, instead of actually boxing it, you are just crossing it out.