Ask Me Help Desk

Ask Me Help Desk (https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/forum.php)
-   Math & Sciences (https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/forumdisplay.php?f=402)
-   -   Where did I go wrong (https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/showthread.php?t=345424)

  • Apr 23, 2009, 11:19 PM
    mach5
    where did I go wrong
    Where did I make my mistake?
    x = b - a
    x(b – a) = (b – a)(b – a)
    bx – ax = b^2 – 2ab + a^2

    bx – ax – bx + ab – a^2 = b^2 – 2ab + a^2 – bx + ab – a^2
    bx – bx – ax + ab – a^2 = –bx + b^2 – 2ab + ab + a^2 – a^2

    –ax + ab – a^2 = –bx + b^2 – ab
    a(–x + b – a) = b(–x + b – a)
    a = b
  • Apr 24, 2009, 05:30 AM
    Perito

    This is one of those "problems" where you "prove" that everything is equal to everything else. Usually the answer comes out "2=1" or something like that.

    If x=(b-a) then -x+b-a = 0 and in your last step you divided both sides by zero. This is an undefined operation so the result is undefined.

  • All times are GMT -7. The time now is 07:07 PM.