Guest Posted January 15, 2008 Report Share Posted January 15, 2008 The following is what seems to be a mathematical proof that two equals one. What's wrong with it? a = b aa = ab aa - bb = ab - bb (a + b)(a - b) = b(a - b) a + b = b a + a = a 2a = a 2 = 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 bonanova Posted January 15, 2008 Report Share Posted January 15, 2008 Reveal hidden contents zero. a - b = 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 Guest Posted January 25, 2008 Report Share Posted January 25, 2008 how do you go from.........a + b = b to........a + a = a the top line just means a=0? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 Guest Posted January 26, 2008 Report Share Posted January 26, 2008 a must equal zero right? aargh confusing much ?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 Guest Posted January 26, 2008 Report Share Posted January 26, 2008 Maximus said: how do you go from.........a + b = b to........a + a = a the top line just means a=0? Because a = b, he can substitute a and b freely for each other. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 Guest Posted January 29, 2008 Report Share Posted January 29, 2008 Panda_ca said: The following is what seems to be a mathematical proof that two equals one. What's wrong with it? a = b aa = ab aa - bb = ab - bb (a + b)(a - b) = b(a - b) a + b = b a + a = a 2a = a 2 = 1 The problem is with the division in the fourth line. You have to divide each element on the left side of the equation by (a-b). The fifth line should be (a+b)/(a-b)=b Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 Guest Posted January 30, 2008 Report Share Posted January 30, 2008 Aunt Minta said: The problem is with the division in the fourth line. You have to divide each element on the left side of the equation by (a-b). The fifth line should be (a+b)/(a-b)=b You got it wrong, brother. The division was ok in a sense, you divide both the left and right sides by the same number other than zero. The problem here is dividing both sides -- the left and right sides -- by zero. From basic maths we know that when a number is divided by zero, it would be undefined. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 bonanova Posted January 30, 2008 Report Share Posted January 30, 2008 brhan said: You got it wrong, brother. The division was ok in a sense, you divide both the left and right sides by the same number other than zero. The problem here is dividing both sides -- the left and right sides -- by zero. From basic maths we know that when a number is divided by zero, it would be undefined. I'll bet Aunt Minta is probably a sista. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 Guest Posted January 30, 2008 Report Share Posted January 30, 2008 (edited) bonanova said: I'll bet Aunt Minta is probably a sista. Thanx Bonanova, I agree. I just didn't notice the name. What do you think the odds would be that Auntie is a man? Edited January 30, 2008 by brhan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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Guest
The following is what seems to be a mathematical proof that two equals one. What's wrong with it?
a = b
aa = ab
aa - bb = ab - bb
(a + b)(a - b) = b(a - b)
a + b = b
a + a = a
2a = a
2 = 1
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