Given: a=b. Applying some basic identity transformations, we get:

       a=b
       a^2-ab=a^2-b^2
       a(a-b)=(a+b)(a-b)
       a=a+b
       a=a+a
       a=2a
       1=2

With such a proof, we can show that 1=2, pi=E, 10000000000000=1, etc.... Can you spot the flaw?

(In reply to A flawed proof? ( Solution ) by Ravi Raja)

Yep, I agree with Ravi's solution. Also the 6th step has a flaw in dividing the equaltion by "a". when a = 2a, a=0. You cannot divide anything by zero so that step is wrong too (Although when step 3 is wrong, according to Ravi, it doesn't matter what comes next)

Posted by Dulanjana on 2002-12-21 05:56:58