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 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 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 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 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 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) 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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