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A Close Match
Can you massage the parameters of these curves to make them match as closely as possible?
Age 16 to 18 Short
Challenge Level
According to my calculator, I see that
$$
\frac{1}{\sqrt{1}+ \sqrt{2}}+ \frac{1}{\sqrt{2}+ \sqrt{3}} + \text{and so on up to}+\frac{1}{ \sqrt {15}+ \sqrt{16}} = 3.0000000000
$$
How could I prove that the answer is, indeed, exactly 3?
Did you know ... ?
Mathematicians often use calculating aids to help form an opinion concerning the likely numerical answer to a problem involving irrational numbers, but will always seek a full proof which does not rely on the calculator to complete the problem.
Mathematicians often use calculating aids to help form an opinion concerning the likely numerical answer to a problem involving irrational numbers, but will always seek a full proof which does not rely on the calculator to complete the problem.
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NRICH is part of the family of activities in the Millennium Mathematics Project.
NRICH is part of the family of activities in the Millennium Mathematics Project.