Quantum Jim's Journal: My /. fortune is mistaken

My /. fortune was:

(1) X=Y ; Given
(2) X^2=XY ; Multiply both sides by X
(3) X^2-Y^2=XY-Y^2 ; Subtract Y^2 from both sides
(4) (X+Y)(X-Y)=Y(X-Y) ; Factor
(5) X+Y=Y ; Cancel out (X-Y) term
(6) 2Y=Y ; Substitute X for Y, by equation 1
(7) 2=1 ; Divide both sides by Y
-- "Omni", proof that 2 equals 1

However, you can only cancel out the (X-Y) if X != Y because if they are equal then the expression is zero! Indeed, the rest of the steps can be left, so you end up with:

2(x-y) = (x-y)
0 = 0

Friends don't let friends divide by zero!

hey there...

[tuxette]

long time no see... how's the BJJ going?

Re:

[Quantum Jim]

Hey, BJJ is going good. I got promoted to blue, won a few tournaments, and am half way to purple I think. How's the krav maga going along? I have been pretty busy and haven't been around for a while. Hopefully I have some more free time now...

Re:

[tuxette]

Sounds great! Krav Maga is going fine, except I have this finger injury that is really cramping my style :-( I hope it's better in time for grading in June...

Re:

[Quantum Jim]

Good luck with your grading. I always buddy-tape injured fingers and toes. Even when not training, the buddy tape helps it heal faster.