1 = 0

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My maths teacher at school showed me this, it's quite interesting, but it is NOT true. Try and spot the deliberate mistake. Try to resist the temptation to look at other people's answers.

Let y = 1

Multiply both sides by y:

y² = y

Subtract 1 from both sides:

y² - 1 = y - 1

As you would realise, the difference of two squares can be applied to the left hand side of the equation (y² and 1 are both square numbers) so, dividing both sides by (y - 1) will give:

(y² - 1)/(y - 1) = (y - 1)/(y - 1)

(y - 1)(y + 1)/(y - 1) = (y - 1)/(y - 1) because (y² - 1) = (y - 1)(y + 1) when factorised according to the difference of 2 squares.

(y + 1) = 1

y + 1 = 1

Therefore:

y = 0

Substitute y = 1 back into the above equation:

1 = 0

! !!

When my maths teacher first showed me this, I was completely baffled, but then I figured it out.

yes yes. and sinx/n always = six...

1 - 1 = 0

It took me a few minutes, but I got it.

I didn't get it because I didn't read the big section in the middle. I suck at and hate math.

I remember being told this in high school, but I forget the point...

Is this why my computers are always so screwed up?

i hate maths too expeicilly algebra

I hate maths, because I always forget it. XD. I forget it almost as fast as I forget French

Whew!


When I saw the title of this thread, inititally I thought, "What is this society coming to?"


But then I looked inside, and all was well.

I love these "proofs;" I used to know a few others. I enjoyed bringing them to my highschool math teachers and jokingly asking them to explain. I also enjoyed showing them to my friends and watching the gears turning in their head and brain catching on fire as they got all confused.

i remember that "1984" explains how 2+2=5

Only thing is, how could y squared=y? Unless Y already equals one...

2² = 2

mindzblowzn!