Comments on: Math Optical Illusion

By: Drew

Drew — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 00:34:09 +0000

Where a = b;
(a+b)(a-b)= b(a-b) is true
(a-b) = 0, therefore
(a+b)(0) = b(0)
0 = 0

The problem occurs during the 5th step, where both sides are divided by (a-b), which as we know equals 0.

Dividing by 0 can give you some interesting conclusions. Wrong conclusions, of course, but interesting ones.

By: hello

hello — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 00:11:19 +0000

you cannot divide both sides by a-b because since they are the same you will get zero and you can’t divide by zero because you’ll get all these wacky answers

By: SomeRandomGuy

SomeRandomGuy — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 19:38:42 +0000

The mistake is at the end.
The equation only makes sense if a=0=b and you can’t divide by 0. Otherwise you get 2=1 which is obviously wrong.

By: as

as — Sun, 25 Dec 2011 09:07:43 +0000

a = b
make a = 1
make b = 2
so 1 = 2
by saying its so doesn’t make it so

By: kkkkkkasd

kkkkkkasd — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 14:35:11 +0000

b(a-b) = b(0) = 0

By: FYOUALL

FYOUALL — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 15:51:56 +0000

YOU CANT DIVIDE BY 0 AHOLES

By: sanam

sanam — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 11:37:57 +0000

here in third line
a^2-b^2=ab-b^2
here,
a^2+b^2=b^2+b^2(since,a=b)
or,b^2+b^2=b^2+b^2(since,a=b so a^2=b^2)
or,2b^2=2b^2
therefore o=o

By: stoyan

stoyan — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 16:37:29 +0000

all this can be only
true if a and b = 0
all other is mess and so 2 isnt = 1 and will never be! :)

By: Mag

Mag — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 11:08:15 +0000

From a+a=a onwards…
a+a=a
=>a=a-a
=>a=o…
or,
a+a=a
=>2a=a
=>2a/a=0
=>2=0

therefore, 2 is not equal to 1.. either a=0 or 2=0
or a=2…:P

By: kavs

kavs — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 17:28:04 +0000

You can not multiply by a-b

By: pratham

pratham — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 02:53:02 +0000

the problems is in the 2nd line…

a^2 ≠ ab
a x a ≠ a x b

By: Karthikeyan

Karthikeyan — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 18:20:56 +0000

Hello, everyone.. The condition for a^2-b^2 = (a+b)(a-b), is when a-b is not equal to zero. ie a should not be equal to b…

The Complete formula is

a^2-b^2 = (a+b)(a-b)
when a-b != 0

By: K.Vee.Shanker.

K.Vee.Shanker. — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 08:37:55 +0000

I agree with Akshay.

These steps simply manipulate the zero with multiplication & Division. Any equation should stop using them (x & /)if both sides become zero.In this equation, it had happened in the 3rd step itself.

Consider this:
5×0=0 & 100×0=0 (substitute 5 or 100 as you like)
Can I say then, 5=100?
That way, anything can be equal to anything else!

By: Akash paul

Akash paul — Sun, 02 Oct 2011 14:31:53 +0000

The Problem lies in the fourth line
(a+b)(a-b)=a^2-b^2
so if the both values are same then …
(a+a)(a-a)=a^2-a^2=0
therefore in the fourth line let us consider the value of a=b=4
(4+4)(4-4)=8*0=0
and b(a-b) = 4(4-4) = 4×0 = 0
and also in the next step we see (a+b)=b which is not possible as we know a=b and b(a-b) = b*0
and therefore (a-b)\(a-b) = 0/0 which is infinite

SO easy solved in 10 seconds Lol and nobody here could solve this freaking thing :P

By: LOL @dan

LOL @dan — Sun, 02 Oct 2011 14:15:42 +0000

Lol what its written a=b
then a^2=ab