My proof that 2=1

Xplorer877 · Jan 24, 2009

Ok so start by letting X=1

Therefore
X[sup]2[/sup]=X

Subtract 1 from both sides
(X[sup]2[/sup]-1)=(X-1)

Difference of two squares
(X+1)(X-1)=(x-1)

Cancel out (X-1) and we have
(X+1)=1

Substitue 1 back in place of X and...
2=1

-Tony

Xplorer877 · Jan 24, 2009

That is what happens when you.... :

Well I'll let you figure it out.

-Tony

hevnsnt · Jan 24, 2009

woah

diachi · Jan 24, 2009

And that's my proof that study = fail

iewed · Jan 24, 2009

Xplorer877 said:
That is what happens when you.... :

Well I'll let you figure it out.

-Tony

Divide by zero?

nikokapo · Jan 24, 2009

Wrong,

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=II-_DanHx3I&fmt=22[/media]

you can't cancel out (X-1) with (X-1) because you stated that X=1, ergo (1-1)=0 and you can't do 0/0.

Or this will happen:

nvmextc · Jan 24, 2009

That reminds me of this 1 I just saw recently.

Let a = x
a+a = a+x (add a to both sides)
2a = a+x (a+a=2a)
2a-2x = a+x-2x (subtract 2x from both sides)
2(a-x) = a+x-2x (2a-2x = 2(a=x))
2(a-x) = a-x (x-2x = -x)
2 = 1 (divide both sides by a-x)

nikokapo · Jan 24, 2009

nvme said:
That reminds me of this 1 I just saw recently.

Let a = x
a+a = a+x (add a to both sides)
2a = a+x (a+a=2a)
2a-2x = a+x-2x (subtract 2x from both sides)
2(a-x) = a+x-2x (2a-2x = 2(a=x))
2(a-x) = a-x (x-2x = -x)
2 = 1 (divide both sides by a-x)

It's the same thing.
If a = x then (a-x) <=> (x-x) = 0, so you can't eliminate (a-x) with (a-x).

rkcstr · Jan 25, 2009

Yup, just like you have to factor out binomials, you can't just "divide to cancel", you actually have to divide them.

(a-x)/(a-x) is not equal to 1

Nevermind, I suck at math, it's as Niko said. You basically set yourself for a fallacy by assuming a = x in the beginning, which would then mean:

a = x
a - x = x - x
a - x = 0

Therefore, (a-x) = 0, then (a-x)/(a-x) = 0/0 and you cannot divide by zero (see above pictures).

rocketparrotlet · Jan 25, 2009

Yeah math fail. It will always either be a false answer or equal the original. The problem with algebra is that it always wins.

-Mark

nikokapo · Jan 25, 2009

rocketparrotlet said:
Yeah math fail. It will always either be a false answer or equal the original. The problem with algebra is that it always wins.

-Mark

I challenged algebra to a Cereal eating contest, and I won by 9560 cereal pieces.

Xplorer877 · Jan 25, 2009

LOL!

Yes dividing by zero can yield slightly odd results.
So this is my 744th post! ;D

-Tony

My proof that 2=1

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