Counterexample: (u + v)^2 ≠ u2 + v2

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relyt
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Find a counterexample to the statement "For all real numbers u and v, (u + v)^2 is not equal to u2 + v2."
 
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What work have you done on the problem? Have you tried anything at all? It's actually harder to find an example than it is a counterexample...

(I assume you meant to write something like [itex](u + v)^2[/itex] -- the proper way to write that when you can't use a superscript is as (u+v)^2, because what you actually wrote is to multiply by 2, and that's a very different problem. :-p)
 
Hey Hurkyl,
I've tried a couple of things, but I know they are not right. Should I post them here anyway :(
 
relyt said:
Hey Hurkyl,
I've tried a couple of things, but I know they are not right. Should I post them here anyway :(
Definitely. It is forum policy that we won't offer much help until you've shown that you've worked on a problem... (p.s. wee the edits in my previous post)
 
relyt said:
Find a counterexample to the statement "For all real numbers u and v, (u + v)2 is not equal to u2 + v2."
You want a counterexample for a basic property of Real Numbers? Yes, I know what set of numbers would give a counterexample. It is the set {}.
 
symbolipoint said:
You want a counterexample for a basic property of Real Numbers? Yes, I know what set of numbers would give a counterexample. It is the set {}.

Now I'm really confused
 
Lol he's just being slight cruel.

Try substitute some small numbers for u and v, see if your Left hand side is equal to your right hand side.
 
No, he's just being completely wrong.

To find a counter example to "(x+ y)2 is NOT x2+ y2", you must use x and y so that (x+y)2= x2+ y2.
Presumably you know that (x+ y)2= x2+ 2xy+ y2. That means you must find x and y so that x2+ 2xy+ y2= x2+ y2.

Notice that the squares on both sides cancel. What does that leave you with?
 
From original: "(u + v)^2 is not equal to u2 + v2."

Actually, I misread the original relation. Either that or the "2" was not shown as exponentiation; but as shown on the right-hand side, the "2" are not shown as exponents.
 
No, I read it as "Find a counterexample to 'for all real numbers x,y it is NOT true that [itex](u+ v)^2= u^2+ v^2[/itex]'" and there is an easy counterexample as I pointed out.
 
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HallsofIvy said:
No, I read it as "Find a counterexample to 'for all real numbers x,y it is NOT true that [math](u+ v)^2= u^2+ v^2[/math]'" and there is an easy counterexample as I pointed out.

That is not what was written originally. The 2's on the righthand side were not exponentiated.
 
The notation isn't the problem. The statement "For all real numbers x,y, (x+y)^2!=2x+2y" is still false. I read it the same as Hurkyl.
 
Tobias Funke said:
The notation isn't the problem. The statement "For all real numbers x,y, (x+y)^2!=2x+2y" is still false. I read it the same as Hurkyl.

Why so? try [itex]y=-x[/itex] and [itex]y=2-x[/itex]

edit: I misread "for all real numbers" as "for what real numbers"