High School Math Jokes: 1-1=0, but 2=0? Impossible!

[Harsha Avinash Tanti]

I would like share a nonsense math problem which certainly wrong but its fun I would like others to join as well in my endeavor to create jokes by using math. the joke is as follows

As we know,
1-1=0
let,
a = 1 , b = 1
then,
a - b = 0
also,
a^2 - b^2 = 0 as a^2 = 1 and b^2 = 1
thus as per algebra
(a - b)(a + b) = 0
thus,
i.e, a - b = 0 and a + b = 0
i.e, 1 - 1 = 0 and 2 = 0.

 

[fresh_42]

I would like share a nonsense math problem which certainly wrong but its fun I would like others to join as well in my endeavor to create jokes by using math. the joke is as follows

As we know,
1-1=0
let,
a = 1 , b = 1
then,
a - b = 0
also,
a^2 - b^2 = 0 as a^2 = 1 and b^2 = 1
thus as per algebra
(a - b)(a + b) = 0
thus,
i.e, a - b = 0 and a + b = 0
i.e, 1 - 1 = 0 and 2 = 0.

This isn't really new: hide zero in a variable and divide by it. What's new is, that you have hidden the division in a multiplication as you used a false logical statement: AND instead of OR. And even OR isn't necessarily true.

I'm not very comfortable with this kind of "joke" because it is simply just wrong on so many levels, that these examples guide the wrong way to seriously learn mathematics. There are better "jokes" where you can actually learn something instead of to learn how to make mistakes. I've seen the above on so many occasions in students' homework or tests, that it is not funny at all. We try to improve mathematical skills, not to damage them.

 

[CWatters]

(a - b)(a + b) = 0
thus,
i.e, a - b = 0 and a + b = 0
i.e, 1 - 1 = 0 and 2 = 0.
[emoji2]

Doesn't really work as a joke because, as already pointed out you made a mistake, it's OR not AND.

 

[Harsha Avinash Tanti]

This isn't really new: hide zero in a variable and divide by it. What's new is, that you have hidden the division in a multiplication as you used a false logical statement: AND instead of OR. And even OR isn't necessarily true.

I'm not very comfortable with this kind of "joke" because it is simply just wrong on so many levels, that these examples guide the wrong way to seriously learn mathematics. There are better "jokes" where you can actually learn something instead of to learn how to make mistakes. I've seen the above on so many occasions in students' homework or tests, that it is not funny at all. We try to improve mathematical skills, not to damage them.

I get that but just did that for pun man I am not at all serious about it.

Doesn't really work as a joke because, as already pointed out you made a mistake, it's OR not AND.

How about this one,
I use this as magic trick to amuse my nephew

I think of any number between 20000 and 30000
say 29547 then I put in an envelop
then
I give a number 9549
then I ask for a random number from my nephew suppose he says 2347
then I say a random number 7652
then I ask for another random number and he says 4587
then I say a random number 5412

then I tell him to add it all up vol-ah you get 29547.

What trick have I used and can you do it for number range 50000 to 60000

 

[jedishrfu]

How about these jokes?

https://www.rd.com/funny-stuff/corny-math-jokes-pi-day/

Yours are non-computable whereas mine are tearable if listed on a piece of paper with small tearable strips for each joke.

Here's some general purpose tearable jokes:

http://jp5.r0tt.com/l_a646fcf0-ff1a-11e1-b1b4-836037b00005.jpg

 

[jedishrfu]

I think we've run the course of math jokes here. Closing the thread now so as to prevent future readers from making these same mistakes in math.