Quandaries
and Queries
Who is asking: Student
Level: Secondary
Question:
(x2-x2) = (x2-x2)
x(x-x) = (x+x)(x-x) [divide both sides by (x-x)]
x = x + x
x = 2x [divide both sides by x]
2 = x/x = 1
Where is the flaw in this problem? I cannot seem to find one for the life of me i thought it was the (x2-x2) = (x2-x2) factoring to x(x-x) = (x-x)(x+x), but it seems im wrong?
Hi,
The flaw is in the second line. You said it explicitly
[divide both sides by (x-x)]
x - x = 0. You can't divide by zero.
Paul