document.write( "Question 992569: Proof of 2=1
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "a = b
\n" ); document.write( "a2 = ab
\n" ); document.write( "a2 - b2 = ab - b2
\n" ); document.write( "(a-b)(a+b) = b(a-b)
\n" ); document.write( "a+b = b
\n" ); document.write( "b+b = b
\n" ); document.write( "2b = b
\n" ); document.write( "2 = 1
\n" ); document.write( "Can you put these statements in order and give the reasons? \n" ); document.write( "

Algebra.Com's Answer #612152 by ikleyn(52792) $\"\"$ $\"About$

You can put this solution on YOUR website!
.
\n" ); document.write( "a = b
\n" ); document.write( "a2 = ab
\n" ); document.write( "a2 - b2 = ab - b2
\n" ); document.write( "(a-b)(a+b) = b(a-b)
\n" ); document.write( "a+b = b
\n" ); document.write( "b+b = b
\n" ); document.write( "2b = b
\n" ); document.write( "2 = 1
\n" ); document.write( "Can you put these statements in order and give the reasons?
\n" ); document.write( "--------------------------------------------------------------------\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "

\r\n" );
document.write( "a = b\r\n" );
document.write( " = \r\n" );
document.write( " -  =  - \r\n" );
document.write( "(a-b)(a+b) = b(a-b)     <<< You can not cancel the term (a-b), because it is zero due to a = b (see very first line). You can not divide by zero!!! Here is the key! \r\n" );
document.write( "                            The rest of the proof is just not relevant.  It is very old math joke.\r\n" );
document.write( "a+b = b\r\n" );
document.write( "b+b = b\r\n" );
document.write( "2b = b\r\n" );
document.write( "2 = 1\r\n" );
document.write( "

\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "

\n" );