In Math class, I discovered a weird math question that takes a sharp brain to solve. Unlike most math questions, it does not require you to solve an equation, but to disprove a series of equations. The equation and the procedures are as below:
a = b
Square both sides of the equal sign
a² = b²
Add ¡°-ab¡± to both sides
a² - ab = b² - ab
Simplify so that (a ¨C b) becomes a factor on both sides
a (a- b) = -b(a - b)
Divide both sides by (a ¨C b)
a = -b
???
Disprove this in the comment box please.

Categories: Math [t], Joke [t]

ha ha.. thanks for reminding me why I dont like math. :)
» kKaMa67 on 2006-12-01 10:26:49

nono
the answer should be a2 = b2 (square root) - a=b
» jolenesiah on 2006-12-01 11:52:22

i mean a=b is the answer no negative sign because -b(-b) = +b
» jolenesiah on 2006-12-01 11:52:56

There's a flaw in "Simplify so that (a ¨C b) becomes a factor on both sides
a (a- b) = -b(a - b)." if a = b, then a-b = 0, and a*0 && b*0 both = 0. Now you *could* have negative zero, but that doesn't quite make sense.
» ikimashokie on 2006-12-01 07:00:53

Correct!!! Kind of...
The answer is that you may not simplify that because you may not divide both sides of the equation by 0 (whcih as ikimashoke pointed out is the value of a-b)
» rrzhang001 on 2006-12-01 07:40:36

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