Just for fun

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  1. Paraglider profile image88
    Paragliderposted 14 years ago

    There's an obvious flaw in this. See who's first to spot it. Since the forum text doesn't support superscript, I'm using a^2 to mean a squared

    if a = b, then:

      a^2 = ab                (multiplying both sides by a)
      a^2 - b^2 = ab - b^2    (subtracting b^2)
      (a - b)(a + b) = b(a - b)   (factorising)
      (a + b) = b             (dividing through by (a-b)
       2b = b                 (because a=b) 
       2 = 1                  (dividing through by b)

    1. Sufidreamer profile image77
      Sufidreamerposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Tough one - I was always crap at algebra. I would hazard a guess that a^2 - b^2 and ab - b^2 are both zero. Therefore the only result is 0 = 0 ?

      1. Paraglider profile image88
        Paragliderposted 14 years agoin reply to this

        Very close, but that's not quite the line that blows the whole thing up. Let's see if anyone else has a go, before I post the answer.

    2. quicksand profile image81
      quicksandposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      From the little mathematics I know ...

      2 x 0 = 0
      1 x 0 = 0

      Therefore 2=1

      smile

      By the way, Paraglider, congratulations on your 300th fan ... any moment now ...

      smile

      1. Paraglider profile image88
        Paragliderposted 14 years agoin reply to this

        I think your cut-down version is just too simple to fool anyone, but you never know!

        Thanks for the fan-observation smile

    3. mohitmisra profile image60
      mohitmisraposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      a^2 = ab                (multiplying both sides by a)
        a^2 - b^2 = ab - b^2    (subtracting b^2)
        (a - b)(a + b) = b(a - b)   (factorising)

          (o)(2)= 1(0)

      you are dividing 0 by 0

        (a + b) = b             (dividing through by (a-b)
         2b = b                 (because a=b) 
         2 = 1                  (dividing through by b)

    4. Daniel Carter profile image62
      Daniel Carterposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Speak to me in quarter notes. I get that. This ain't no quarter note talk.
      LOL

      1. Paraglider profile image88
        Paragliderposted 14 years agoin reply to this

        You being crotchety?   wink

  2. seemorebangkok profile image60
    seemorebangkokposted 14 years ago

    This isn't fun, I have a hard time in Sudoku already smile

  3. StefanMDP profile image78
    StefanMDPposted 14 years ago

    My guess.

    The step : "dividing through by (a-b)"

    is invalid, because (a-b)=0 and x/0 = undefined

    1. Maddie Ruud profile image73
      Maddie Ruudposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      You're exactly right, because the whole premise is that a = b.

    2. ngureco profile image80
      ngurecoposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      The correct answer = StefanMDP

    3. Paraglider profile image88
      Paragliderposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      And the prize goes to -



      Exactly right. Division by zero is undefined (because the result tends towards infinity).

      But you must admit it's a neat trick!

      1. AEvans profile image74
        AEvansposted 14 years agoin reply to this

        Darn it!! I was just coming in to answer the question well it certainly was a good one..smile

  4. Teresa McGurk profile image61
    Teresa McGurkposted 14 years ago

    No, no, no:  I see the obvious flaw here -- Paraglider, it's simple: there's no chocolate in it.  Just add chocolate for a perfect equation, every time.  Next?

    1. Maddie Ruud profile image73
      Maddie Ruudposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Priceless!

    2. profile image0
      pgrundyposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      See, that's why you are my people. smile

  5. profile image0
    C. C. Riterposted 14 years ago

    I don't see it: 2b=b

  6. aka-dj profile image64
    aka-djposted 14 years ago

    2b, or not 2b? That's the real question.
    Assuming a=b is the wrong assunption.smile

  7. Paraglider profile image88
    Paragliderposted 14 years ago

    Chocolate - sheeesh...

    women . . .   (d&r)

  8. Dame Scribe profile image56
    Dame Scribeposted 14 years ago

    Aww...congrats, Paraglider smile tis a time to celebrate. Will there be chocolate wink .... sighs

  9. quicksand profile image81
    quicksandposted 14 years ago

    Oh! I missed out on ^. I was wondering what it was. Poor focus!

  10. profile image52
    Brainbusterposted 14 years ago

    The Problem is in the Step 3, you are canceling out (a-b) both on the LHS as well as in the RHS. whereas a=b, and a-b=0, So divide by 0 error, as 0/0 is invalid operation ans will result in 0. As,
    0/0= 0*(1/0). Anything multiplied by 0 is 0.

  11. Paraglider profile image88
    Paragliderposted 14 years ago

    true - dividing by zero is still undefined, even after two months wink

    1. mohitmisra profile image60
      mohitmisraposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      lol  wink

  12. scheinandras profile image59
    scheinandrasposted 14 years ago

    I like this sort of mental exercises, however I'm crap at maths:) Could you get any easier ones:)

  13. AsherKade profile image59
    AsherKadeposted 14 years ago

    I don't see Misha in this forum....
    "(

 
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