2 3
2 3
2 3
Eq. (5) may be written even more clearly by the use of brackets:
(6)
3(a-b-c)=2(a-b-c)
Now it is very easy to see, that indeed
3=2
We know that,
-6 = -6
i.e., 4 - 10 = 9 - 15
i.e., 4 - 10 + (25/4) = 9 - 15 + (25/4)
i.e., 2^2 - 2*2*(5/2) + (5/2)^2 = 3^2 - 2*3*(5/2) + (5/2)^2
i.e., (2 - 5/2)^2 = (3 - 5/2)^2
i.e., 2 - 5/2 = 3 - 5/2
i.e., 2 = 3
2=3
sol':
1st: multiply both side by 4
2*4 = 3*4
8 = 12
2nd: subtract both side by 10
8-10 = 12-10
-2 = 2
Mathematical fallacy
In mathematics, certain kinds of mistaken proof are often exhibited, and sometimes
collected, as illustrations of a concept of mathematical fallacy. There is a
distinction between a simple mistake and a mathematical fallacy in a proof: a
mistake in a proof leads to an invalid proof just in the same way, but in the bestknown examples of mathematical fallacies, there is some concealment in the
presentation of the proof. For example, the reason validity fails may be a division
by zero that is hidden by algebraic notation. There is a striking quality of the
mathematical fallacy: as typically presented, it leads not only to an absurd result,
but does so in a crafty or clever way.[1] Therefore these fallacies, for pedagogic
reasons, usually take the form of spurious proofs of obvious contradictions.
Although the proofs are flawed, the errors, usually by design, are comparatively
subtle, or designed to show that certain steps are conditional, and should not be
applied in the cases that are the exceptions to the rules.
The traditional way of presenting a mathematical fallacy is to give an invalid step
of deduction mixed in with valid steps, so that the meaning of fallacy is here
slightly different from the logical fallacy. The latter applies normally to a form of
argument that is not a genuine rule of logic, where the problematic mathematical
step is typically a correct rule applied with a tacit wrong assumption. Beyond
pedagogy, the resolution of a fallacy can lead to deeper insights into a subject (such
as the introduction of Pasch's axiom of Euclidean geometry[2] and the five color
theorem of graph theory). Pseudaria, an ancient lost book of false proofs, is
attributed to Euclid.[3]
Mathematical fallacies exist in many branches of mathematics. In elementary
algebra, typical examples may involve a step where division by zero is performed,
where a root is incorrectly extracted or, more generally, where different values of
a multiple valued function are equated. Well-known fallacies also exist in
elementary Euclidean geometry and calculus.
Howlers
Division by zero
Many functions do not have a unique inverse. For instance squaring a number
gives a unique value, but there are two possible square roots of a positive number.
The square root is multivalued. One value can be chosen by convention as
the principal value, in the case of the square root the non-negative value is the
principal value, but there is no guarantee that the square root function given by this
principal value of the square of a number will be equal to the original number, e.g.
the square root of the square of 2 is 2.
Calculus
Calculus as the mathematical study of infinitesimal change and limits can lead to
mathematical fallacies if the properties of integrals and differentials are ignored.
For instance, a naive use of integration by parts can be used to give a false proof
that 0 = 1. Letting
and
, we may write:
Since the difference between two values of a constant function vanishes, the same
definite integral appears on both sides of the equation.
Power and root
so that
or
which is incorrect.
The error in each of these examples fundamentally lies in the fact that any equation
of the form
The error here is that the rule of multiplying exponents as when going to the third
line does not apply unmodified with complex exponents, even if when putting both
sides to the power i only the principal value is chosen. When treated as multivalued
functions, both sides produce the same set of values, being {e2n | n }.
Geometry
oriented angles in the plane) a valid identity, but which fixes only the absolute
value of (one of) these quantities. This quantity is then incorporated into the
equation with the wrong orientation, so as to produce an absurd conclusion. This
wrong orientation is usually suggested implicitly by supplying an imprecise
diagram of the situation, where relative positions of points or lines are chosen in a
way that is actually impossible under the hypotheses of the argument, but nonobviously so. Such a fallacy is easy to expose by drawing a precise picture of the
situation, in which some relative positions will be different form those in the
provided diagram. In order to avoid such fallacies, a correct geometric argument
using addition or subtraction of distances or angles should always prove that
quantities are being incorporated with their correct orientation.
Fallacy of the isosceles triangle
The fallacy of the isosceles triangle, from (Maxwell 1959, Chapter II, 1),
purports to show that every triangle is isosceles, meaning that two sides of the
triangle are congruent. This fallacy has been attributed to Lewis Carroll.
Given a triangle ABC, prove that AB = AC:
1. Draw a line bisecting A
2. Draw the perpendicular bisector of segment BC, which bisects BC at a point
D
3. Let these two lines meet at a point O.
4. Draw line OR perpendicular to AB, line OQ perpendicular to AC
5. Draw lines OB and OC
6. By RHS, RAO QAO (ORA = OQA = 90; AO=AO (COMMON
SIDE); RAO = QAO)
7. By RHS,[12] ROB QOC
8. Thus, AR = AQ, RB = QC, and AB = AR + RB = AQ + QC = AC
Q.E.D.
As a corollary, one can show that all triangles are equilateral, by showing that AB
= BC and AC = BC in the same way.
The error in the proof is the assumption in the diagram that the point O is inside the
triangle. In fact, O always lies at the circumcircle of the ABC (except for
isosceles and equilateral triangles where AO and OD coincides . Furthermore, it
can be shown that, if AB is longer than AC, then R will lie within AB, while Q will
lie outside of AC (and vice versa). (Any diagram drawn with sufficiently accurate
instruments will verify the above two facts.) Because of this, AB is still AR + RB,
but AC is actually AQ QC; and thus the lengths are not necessarily the same.