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?

To get to a=a+b, one has to divide through by (a-b). But a=b, which means dividing by zero. End of algebraic validity.

Posted by michael on 2003-04-12 04:31:45