1 = 2 Edit Meaning

1.

The person before made a mistake in their proof.

1. x = y

2. xy = y^2

3. xy - x^2 = y^2 - x^2

4. x(y - x) = (y + x)(y - x)

So far so good.

4.5. x = (y + x)(y - x)/(y - x)] is what they did to get to step 5, which says:

5. x = y + x

This is wrong though. since x = y, y -x = 0, and so you can't divide by y - x.

Anyone who says 1 = 2 is wrong.

1 != 2

See math, proof, divide by zero, mistake, wrong

2.

1. x = y

2. xy = y^2

3. xy - x^2 = y^2 - x^2

4. x(y - x) = (y + x)(y - x)

5. x = y + x

6. x = x + x

7. x = 2x

8. 1 = 2

QED

As proven, 1 = 2, thus 0 = 1, etc. And so for any number i, there is an equivalent j that is not equal to i.

This is further explained in the Identity Theft Theorem.

See 1 = 2, contradiction