SHOCK NEWS - 2 = 1 !!!!!

[Judd]

....or does it?

Some maths fun for you lot....

x = y                multiply by x:

x² = xy              subtract y²:

x²-y² = xy-y²        factorise:

(x+y)(x-y) = y(x-y)  cancel common factor:

x+y = y              but x=y so:

y+y = y

2y = y

2 = 1

So come on clever pants, what's wrong?



Dan

[Toot]

You can't divide by zero in the "cancel common factor" bit. (x-y = 0).

Tada!

Toot

[Judd]

Toot wins the prize

And the prize is winning.



Dan

[gfurner]

Yeah, If you could divide by zero, anything could equal anything:

3 * 0 = 5 * 0       Cancel Common Factor
    3 = 5

This is why dividing by zero is not allowed.

And that's where Calculas fits in!

[Sam Finch]

Hmm, I thought calculus was about finding slopes and areas under graphs. or is calculas a different subject

There's also a bit of dividing by zero in calculas.

picture a slope like this

      | 
      |
      |
      |

completely vertical. 

m = 2
   ---
    0

It's left undefined because of the 0.