The Ultimate in Martial Arts

judo guy · 11-11-2000, 11:44 PM

My friends son just gave me an algebraic problem that seems to prove 1=0. It seems to conform to all the rules. Tell me where it is wrong

Let A=B=1

1) A=B

2) A squared=AB

3) A squared - B squared = AB -(B squared)

4) (A + B)(A-B)= B(A-B)

5) A + B = B

6) A = 0

7) 1 = 0

Being stoned during algebra class finally caught up with me.

Where is the fault in the problem?

YeLLa-TiGeR · 11-11-2000, 11:48 PM

ugh......math

SanDiegoBJJ · 11-12-2000, 12:31 AM

youre wrong at 5-a+b=2--if a=b=1, then it would be 1+1=2

judo guy · 11-12-2000, 12:35 AM

San Diego,

Thanks, I saw that also. But, step 4 looks correct to me. If step 4 is correct then step 5 is true (subtract a-b from both sides you are left with A + B = B). Can someone tell me what previous step is false? I have a feeling it is in step 4, but step 4 seems a logical progression from steps 1-3.

[Edited by judo guy on 11-11-2000 at 07:43 PM]

Hung Lo · 11-12-2000, 12:52 AM

In step 4 you're factoring out a zero (A - B = 0)

Anything divided by zero is undefined.

judo guy · 11-12-2000, 12:53 AM

Thanks Hung Lo. I thought dividing by zero was an illegal step, but I wasn't sure. Damn I feel stupid.

[Edited by judo guy on 11-11-2000 at 07:56 PM]

Bad Karma · 11-12-2000, 10:30 AM

You just got answered and I STILL don't know what you're talking about!

Peace

SweepEm · 11-14-2000, 04:45 AM

Besides in school,
I have yet to use one algebra formula in real life.

hey Judo Dude, don't tell your son that.
You never know when your life might depend on the algebra, trigonometry and caluculus you've learned in school.

11-14-2000, 04:58 AM

Yeah, but SweepEm...you're old, dude!

I mean, did they even have computers when you graduated from high school? I mean, besides Robbie the Robot and those gigantic buildings that helped guide the Apollo rockets?

Sorry, you're the one Forum "lifer" whom I haven't antagonized yet in the year+ I've been posting.

11-12-2000, 12:31 AM	#3 (permalink)
SanDiegoBJJ Novice Join Date: Sep 2000 Posts: 25 Groans: 0 Groaned at 0 Times in 0 Posts	youre wrong at 5-a+b=2--if a=b=1, then it would be 1+1=2 __________________ Formerly Den Grappler, formerly from the lions den

11-12-2000, 12:52 AM	#5 (permalink)
Hung Lo Novice Join Date: Sep 2000 Posts: 6 Groans: 0 Groaned at 0 Times in 0 Posts	In step 4 you're factoring out a zero (A - B = 0) Anything divided by zero is undefined. __________________ Lo, not long.

11-12-2000, 10:30 AM	#7 (permalink)
Bad Karma Novice Join Date: Dec 1998 Location: USA Posts: 231 Groans: 0 Groaned at 0 Times in 0 Posts	Are you kidding? You just got answered and I STILL don't know what you're talking about! Peace __________________ "Controle suas emoções ou controlá-lo-ão"

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11-11-2000, 11:44 PM	#1 (permalink)
judo guy Novice Join Date: Sep 2000 Posts: 177 Groans: 0 Groaned at 0 Times in 0 Posts	My friends son just gave me an algebraic problem that seems to prove 1=0. It seems to conform to all the rules. Tell me where it is wrong Let A=B=1 1) A=B 2) A squared=AB 3) A squared - B squared = AB -(B squared) 4) (A + B)(A-B)= B(A-B) 5) A + B = B 6) A = 0 7) 1 = 0 Being stoned during algebra class finally caught up with me. Where is the fault in the problem?

11-11-2000, 11:48 PM	#2 (permalink)
YeLLa-TiGeR Registered User Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Boston Posts: 1,148 Groans: 0 Groaned at 0 Times in 0 Posts	ugh......math

11-12-2000, 12:35 AM	#4 (permalink)
judo guy Novice Join Date: Sep 2000 Posts: 177 Groans: 0 Groaned at 0 Times in 0 Posts	San Diego, Thanks, I saw that also. But, step 4 looks correct to me. If step 4 is correct then step 5 is true (subtract a-b from both sides you are left with A + B = B). Can someone tell me what previous step is false? I have a feeling it is in step 4, but step 4 seems a logical progression from steps 1-3. [Edited by judo guy on 11-11-2000 at 07:43 PM]

11-12-2000, 12:53 AM	#6 (permalink)
judo guy Novice Join Date: Sep 2000 Posts: 177 Groans: 0 Groaned at 0 Times in 0 Posts	Thanks Hung Lo. I thought dividing by zero was an illegal step, but I wasn't sure. Damn I feel stupid. [Edited by judo guy on 11-11-2000 at 07:56 PM]

11-14-2000, 04:45 AM	#8 (permalink)
SweepEm Master Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 2,845 Groans: 0 Groaned at 0 Times in 0 Posts	Besides in school, I have yet to use one algebra formula in real life. hey Judo Dude, don't tell your son that. You never know when your life might depend on the algebra, trigonometry and caluculus you've learned in school.

11-14-2000, 04:58 AM	#9 (permalink)
Ronin Guest Posts: n/a	Yeah, but SweepEm...you're old, dude! I mean, did they even have computers when you graduated from high school? I mean, besides Robbie the Robot and those gigantic buildings that helped guide the Apollo rockets? Sorry, you're the one Forum "lifer" whom I haven't antagonized yet in the year+ I've been posting.

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