----- Original Message -----
From: "Gander" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "PCI PowerMacs" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Thursday, October 04, 2001 11:29 PM
Subject: Re : Old Farts Math


> Ya, Mathematica is an expensive bugger if you get it full price.
>
> >Hmm, it's beyond me... could I interest you in proving that 1 = 2?
>
> >Scott Holder
>
> Well... I get the kids on the problem 11 + 2 = 1 in an everyday situation.
> That confuses them until you point to the clock.  Then they notice 11
> o'clock + 2 hours happens to equal 1 o'clock.  That's 1300 hours, mister!

Well, here's another one for ya:

start off by declaring that a = b (the crux of the problem, but most won't
pick up on it).

>From there, multiply both sides by b. Since you're doing the same to both
sides, it stays equal:

ab = b^2

Then, subtract a^2 from either side, same deal

ab - a^2 = b^2 - a^2

Do some factoring:

a (b-a) = (b+a) (b-a)

Cancel out the (b-a)s:

a = b + a

But, we already established that a = b, so substitute in an a for the b

a = a + a

a = 2a

diving by a,

1 = 2

There ya go!

Scott Holder


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