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How I imagine mathematicians... (lemmy.ml)
submitted 1 month ago by Ephera@lemmy.ml to c/science_memes@mander.xyz
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[-] Kraiden@piefed.social 8 points 1 month ago

madness. How am I supposed to know if 36 = 36 or 36 = 8?

[-] lvxferre@mander.xyz 8 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

Numbers are all made up stuff, and they're all the same. Here, lemme prove it; let a=b, and...

a² = ab             // multiplying both sides by "a"
2a² = a²+ab         // adding a² to both sides
2a²-2ab = a²-ab     // subtracting 2ab from both sides
2(a²-ab) = 1(a²-ab) // isolating (a²-ab)
2 = 1               // dividing both sides by (a²-ab)

From there you can prove any number is any number. 36=36 or 36=8 or 36=π.

the trickIf a=b, you can't divide both sides by (a²-ab), because it's a division by zero.

[-] psud@aussie.zone 3 points 3 weeks ago

Lots of zeros in that due to a=b (before looking at the spoiler text)

[-] lvxferre@mander.xyz 3 points 3 weeks ago

Bingo. The whole "a=b" is just a distraction to hide it, otherwise as soon as you hit the third step you cancel both out, and end with 0=0.

[-] Ephera@lemmy.ml 4 points 1 month ago

Do you mean 36 = 18 there? Otherwise, I'm very confused. 😅

[-] mhi@lemmy.world 19 points 1 month ago

Doesn't make a difference as 18 = 8

[-] DacoTaco@lemmy.world 3 points 1 month ago

Because the things like 3a are only for variables, not numbers.

this post was submitted on 13 Dec 2025
392 points (97.3% liked)

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