Puzzle

Math Puzzles of the Month

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Can 2 = 1?

2=1

Here’s our "proof":

  1. Let x = y
  2. so
    x2 = xy
  3. adding x2 to both sides of the equation we get
    x2 + x2 = x2 + xy
  4. simplifying we get
    2 x2 = x2 + xy
  5. subtract 2xy from both sides and we get
    2 x2 – 2xy = x2 + xy – 2xy
  6. simplifying we get
    2 x2 – 2xy = x2 – xy
  7. factoring for (x2 – xy) we get
    2 (x2 – xy) = 1 (x2 – xy)
  8. divide both sides by (x2 – xy) we get
    2 = 1

Since 2 can’t equal, 1 there must be something wrong here. What’s wrong with our proof?


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