Explaining the error in a two-plus-two-equals-five proof

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Remember that

[tex]x^2=y^2[/tex]

doesn't mean that x=y. (indeed, we can have x=-y as well).

Here

[tex](4-9/2)^2=(5-9/2)^2[/tex]

doesn't mean that we can leave off the squares.
 
To simplify (-1/2)2 = (1/2)2