mathsplaining

Explaining math – whether you like it or not

ChatGPT Can’t Math! Pt 1

ChatGPT Can’t Math! Pt 1

Many people are afraid that ChatGPT and other AI technologies will replace human beings. While ChatGPT is a very useful tool, it has a serious weakness: ChatGPT can’t math!

Let me show you an example of a problem that requires basic algebra and basic calculus that absolutely stumps ChatGPT.

I asked ChatGPT to compute the integral:

\int \frac{1-x}{1-\sqrt{x}}\ dx

This problem is easily solved by using the algebra technique of multiplying the top and the bottom by the conjugate of the denominator, then simplifying. After that, it becomes a simple integral involving the power rule.

\int \frac{1-x}{1-\sqrt{x}}\ dx = \int \frac{(1-x)(1+\sqrt{x})}{(1-\sqrt{x})(1+\sqrt{x})}\ dx

= \int \frac{(1-x)(1+\sqrt{x})}{(1-\sqrt{x})(1+\sqrt{x})}\ dx = \int \frac{(1-x)(1+\sqrt{x})}{1-x}\ dx

= \int 1+\sqrt{x}\ dx = x+\frac{2}{3}x^{3/2}+C

While this integral is not so hard for an average calculus student, ChatGPT fails pretty badly. See below.

You might think that maybe calculus is too hard for ChatGPT, but actually it fails basic algebra. I asked ChatGPT to simplify the already simplified expression:

\frac{1+x^2}{1-x}

Once again, ChatGPT fails pretty badly. Check it out:

The mistake occurred in the very first step.

Those people that are worried that AI will replace humans or worse, become killer robots intent on our destruction, can breathe a sigh of relief. If you are ever face to face with a robot terminator and afraid for your life, don’t worry, you can short-circuit the machine by asking it to do your algebra homework!

mathsplanations - by the_inconsiderate_mathspreader