Here’s an interesting math situation, wherein I prove that 2=1:
1.) Suppose you have quantities A and B, and suppose they are equal. That is,
A = B
2.) Multiply both sides by A:
A^2 = AB
3.) Now subtract B^2 from both sides:
A^2-B^2 = AB-B^2
4.) Factor both sides:
(A+B)(A-B) = B(A-B)
5.) Divide both sides by the common factor (A-B):
A+B = B
6.) Now, remembering that A=B, we have
B+B=B, or 2B=B
7.) Divide both sides by B:
2=1
And now, children, you will understand how Congress creates the national budget.
/Lewis Carroll
I had to look at that for a little while to figure out where it goes wrong. I’m not convinced that congress uses even that level of rational logic to arrive at what they do.
You just caused a discontinuity in space-time by doing the impermissible. đ
To preserve the joy of the next readers, I won’t spoil it by saying what.
Yup, this is an old one….
I won’t give it away exactly, but I will point out that if A=B then A-B=?. You do the math.
No fair using calculus…
;=)