Sorry! multiplying (x - y)(x+y) is x(2) - xy + xy - y(2) or x(2) - y(2) Read the post from ForenSys for the correct answer ----- Original Message ----- From: "Alan Steward" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Monday, July 30, 2001 8:39 PM Subject: Re: RBDos 6.5++ LASTKEY function seems faulty > If my algebraic memory is correct from several decades ago, the flaw is: > > [X(2) - Y(2)] is not the same as [(X-Y)(X+Y)] > because > [(X-Y)(X+Y)] is equal to [ X(2) - 2XY + Y(2) ] > > The "factoring" of [X(2) - Y(2)] is erroneous. > > Jurassic math major, > Alan Steward > > At 18:15 07/30/2001 -0400, you wrote: > >Congratulations! you found the flaw. > >I've always taught that "cancelling" is a dirty word and should not be used. > >Too many teachers use that word and what they should be saying is that we > >"divide" both sides by x - y (or whatever they are dividing by) > >----- Original Message ----- > >From: "ForenSys" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > >To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > >Sent: Monday, July 30, 2001 6:06 PM > >Subject: Re: RBDos 6.5++ LASTKEY function seems faulty > > > > > > > > (x-y) (x+y) = y(x-y) > > > > > > Of course, you can't divide both sides by (x-y) because x-y=0 and you > >can't > > > divide by zero. > > > > > > BUT, if TOLERANCE is set greater than or equal to 1, then 1=2 in RBase. > > > > > > Regards, > > > > > > Stephen Markson > > > ForenSys The Forensic Systems Group > > > www.ForensicSystemsGroup.com > > > 416 482 2140 > > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > > From: "Bernard Lis" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > > To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > > Sent: Sunday, July 29, 2001 3:15 PM > > > Subject: Re: RBDos 6.5++ LASTKEY function seems faulty > > > > > > > > > > I can't resist this -- your while 2 > 1 reminded me that 2 is really > > > > equal to 1. Proof follows: > > > > > > > > x=1 y=1 therefore x = y > > > > multiplying both sides by x gives > > > > x(2) = xy that's read as x squared > > > > subtracting y(2) from both sides we get > > > > x(2) - y(2) = xy - y(2) > > > > factoring: difference of 2 squares and common factor > > > > (x-y) (x+y) = y(x-y) > > > > canceling x-y on both sides we get: > > > > x + y = y or > > > > 2 = 1 > > > > > > > > Yours truly, > > > > Bernie Lis > > > > > > >
