MATH STINGER #12

    by Dr. Joel C. Fowler
    Assistant Professor of Mathematics

   
     
     The puzzle for this issue is to determine in each of the
following pairs which is larger and why.
     a) (x^2+y^2)/(x+y) or (x^2-y^2)/(x-y) for all positive       
        numbers x and y.
     b) The 1000th root of 1000! or the 1001th root of 1001!.     
        The factorial function is defined by 
                n!=n(n-1)(n-2)(n-3)...(3)(2)(1).
     c) 1000^1000 or (1)(3)(5)(7)...(1995)(1997)(1999).

   

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