1. Re: Puzzle
On Thu, 12 Aug 2004 09:29:56 +1000, Patrick Barnes <mrtrick at gmail.com>
wrote:
> x = 1, y = 1
>
> x = y
> x^2 = xy (times both sides by x)
> x^2 - y^2 = xy - y^2 (subtract y^2 from both sides)
> (x+y)(x-y) = y(x-y) (factorise)
> x+y = y (divide both sides by (x-y)
> y = x+y
> 1 = 1+ 1
> 1 = 2???
> (I know there is a fallacy here, I'm not seriously supporting this)
>
Yep! Fallacy is "divide both sides by (x-y)."
x-y = 0 (x=1, y=1) and the result of division by zero is undefined.
Verne
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