a = b

laja · #1 01-31-2005, 10:36 PM

a = b
a^2 = ab
a^2 - b^2 = ab - b^2
(a+b)(a-b) = b(a-b)
a+b = b
2b = b
2 = 1
1 = 0
¬¿¬

gila · #2 01-31-2005, 10:43 PM

what is--sound of one hand clapping?

toss · #3 01-31-2005, 10:44 PM

Dividing with zero is a no no.

IsaacW · #4 01-31-2005, 11:02 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Dividing with zero is a no no.

[/ QUOTE ]
(a+b)(a-b) = b(a-b)
a+b = b...
COMPUTER ASPLODE!

I first saw this trick in my high school calculus class. Watching the other kids try to figure this out was +HARHAR.

ClaytonN · #5 01-31-2005, 11:11 PM

Isn't the problem in step 4?

nnoobi · #6 01-31-2005, 11:15 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Isn't the problem in step 4?

[/ QUOTE ]

The problem is in between these two lines:
(a+b)(a-b) = b(a-b)
a+b = b

Reducing the equation as above is dividing both sides by (a-b). (a-b) is also (a-a) or 0.

Dividing by zero is not defined on the real number system. As someone already mentioned - it's a big no-no.

rabbit

buffett · #7 02-01-2005, 01:10 AM

If a man speaks in a forest, but there is no woman around to hear him.....is he still wrong?

IsaacW · #8 02-01-2005, 01:17 AM

[ QUOTE ]
Isn't the problem in step 4?

[/ QUOTE ]
Yeah, I wasn't really clear about that... it is the dividing both sides by (a-b).

Hiding · #9 02-01-2005, 01:47 AM

oops! (edited to retract before it was too late)

The Mayher · #10 02-01-2005, 02:59 AM

the correct answer is.......2 b ????????? 2 b
commonly known as to be or not to be