2 = 1 ?!? — not really
As many people, we came across the following photo:
In this mathematical “proof” the author tries to convince us that there is an error in math and it can be demonstrated using the above example. The steps taken by this person are the following:
- The proof starts by defining
a
equal tob
(a = b
). - Then, it multiplies both sides with
a
which results toa^2 = ab
. - Next, it subtracts from both sides
b^2
and we geta^2-b^2 = ab-b^2
. - Following, it extracts the common multiplier of both sides
(a-b)
resulting to(a+b)(a-b) = b(a-b)
. - Here’s the nice part, the author divides both sides with
(a-b)
which results toa+b = b
. - Since
a = b
, it replacesa
on the left side with ab
and produces this stateb+b = b => 2b = b
. - Finally, it divides by
b
both sides which results to2 = 1
.
The reason that this proof is false is because in step 5, where it divides both sides with (a-b)
it really is dividing both sides with 0
(since we know for sure that a = b
from step 1) which it cannot be defined as a valid division. So everything from step 5 and forward are invalid and thus the proof is wrong.