Proving 3 + 2 = 0

1. Aug 4, 2009

DARTZ

Assume A + B = C, and assume A = 3 and B = 2.

Multiply both sides of the equation A + B = C by (A + B).

We obtain A² + 2AB + B² = C(A + B)

Rearranging the terms we have

A² + AB - AC = - AB - B² + BC

Factoring out (A + B - C), we have

A(A + B - C) = - B(A + B - C)

Dividing both sides by (A + B - C), that is, dividing by zero, we get A = - B, or A + B = 0, which is evidently absurd.

2. Aug 4, 2009

humanino

Can you elaborate on this step ? What do you mean by "factor out" ?

3. Aug 4, 2009

Pengwuino

Yes, it is. You can't divide by 0.

It's like saying : 3 * 0 = 4 * 0 and then attempt to divide by 0 to say that 3 = 4.

4. Aug 4, 2009

S_David

You can not divide by zero, you must do the following:

\begin{align} A(A+B-C)+B(A+B-C)=&0\\ (A+B-C)(A+B)=&0 \end{align}

which implies that either:

$$A+B-C=0\\ \text{ or }\\ A+B=0$$

and of cource the second option is rejected since it contradicts with the first one, unless $$C=0$$, but if you state at the begining that $$A\neq 0, B\neq 0, \text{ and } C\neq 0$$, then the second choise definetly must be rejected.

Regards

5. Aug 4, 2009

jgens

This really is what Pengwuino said already, but to elaborate . . . In the set of real numbers (R), every non-zero number a has a multiplicative inverse element a-1 such that a * a-1 = 1. However, the set of real numbers does not contain a multiplicative inverse element for zero, that is, there is no real number x such that 0 * x = 1 (a fact that is relatively easy to prove).

6. Aug 4, 2009

MakeUpPlz

I don't know if I sound like I am robbing straight from your face this problem with "Hey then whatz up?"
Who says 3+2=0 ?

7. Aug 4, 2009

camilus

Alright, in the first line of your argument, you said "assume A+B=C". And your whole argument stems from cancelling out the factor of A+B-C which means dividing by A+B-C, and from your definition of A+B=C implies A+B-C=C-C or A+B-C=0. Therefore you're dividing by zero.

8. Aug 5, 2009

kldickson

You divided by zero?

OH SHI-

9. Aug 5, 2009

n!kofeyn

I feel like the original poster, DARTZ, is just posting an interesting demonstration of what kind of mischief dividing by zero leads to and knows perfectly well he can't do so. He even states that he is dividing by 0 and admits the absurdity. DARTZ said he was dividing by zero, and then nearly every post goes and says "hey, you're dividing by zero". I could be wrong though.