Let A=B=1
Then, it follows that AA=AB
Hence, AA-BB=AB-BB
Thus, (A+B)(A-B)=B(A-B)
Therefore, it should be obvious to the casual observer, that A+B=B
And so A=0
QED, 1=0
That’s a different equation to my literal mind. If P is 0 and NP is any other number than 0, then P can only equal NP if other equations are applied, which is more than the stated equation asks for. Then again, I’m not even a math amateur.
If you’re right, where’s your million plus a bonus for your less than a page answer?!
I forgot to thank you for the brain exercise!
“Thus, (A+B)(A-B)=B(A-B)
Therefore, it should be obvious to the casual observer, that A+B=B”
You’d be right if division by zero were permitted. Unfortunately it’s not, QED, you’re wrong.
You just divided by zero.
That was a pretty good brain teaser. I totally missed the divide by zero and was getting worried for a second that the universe didn’t make sense!
I was one of the first cohort of kids in my school district to be placed in the experimental “integrated math” curriculum track. Assignments often involved creating your own word problems. This was one of my first:
“Joe has three apples. Mary has no apples at all. Jealous of Joe’s good fortune, Mary multiplies her lack of apples by Joe’s three apples. How many apples does Joe have left.”
I didn’t like integrated math, much.