- #1
mishima
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Homework Statement
Prove that if x2=y2, then x=y or x=-y.
This is from Spivak's Calculus, problem 1(iii).
Homework Equations
Distributive law. If a, b, and c are any numbers, then a(b+c)=a*b+a*c.
Existence of additive inverse. If a is any number, then a+0=0+a.
Existence of multiplicative inverse. For every number a≠0, there is a number a-1 such that a*a-1=a-1*a=1.
The Attempt at a Solution
First by the existence of additive inverse,
x2+(-y2)=y2+(-y2)=0.
Then in an earlier problem I proved x2-y2=(x-y)(x+y) using a triple application of the distributive law and the existence of additive inverse. So,
x2-y2=0=(x-y)(x+y).
Now here's where I get uncomfortable. I want to use the existence of multiplicative inverses to do this
(x-y)-1(x-y)(x+y)=1*(x+y)=0
But multiplicative inverse has the stipulation that (x-y)≠0. So then when I do the other part
(x+y)-1(x-y)(x+y)=1*(x-y)=0
I get a contradiction. I must be making a mistake since this only shows that x=-y, right? Or is it just an exclusive "or" in the problem statement or something? Earlier he says to assume inclusive ors...