Mostly Bollogs, I'm afraid

But occasionally, a glimmer of truth.
If you find one, please let me know.



Friday 13 September 2013

Balls

I'be been listening to Mr Balls, the Shadow Chancellor, on economics.

I have to conclude he's got a point.

Let a and b be equal numbers, such as a trillion pounds.

a=b

Multiply by a:

a²=ab

Subtract b²:

a²-b²=ab-b²

Factor:

(a-b)(a+b)=b(a-b)

Divide by (a-b):

a+b=b

As a=b, substitute:

b+b=b

Combine:

2b=b

Divide by b:

2=1

And that is why economics is Balls.


2 comments:

hangemall said...

It's well over forty years since I did algebra, but it looks as though, if "a" and "b" are equal then you are dividing by zero "divide by (a-b)" which is a bit naughty, I believe.

Aha! I just found it

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proofs_that_1_equals_to_2

Uncle Marvo said...

Well spotted, hangemall!