Ahhhh, an excellent, creative and paradoxical problem. Thank you.
First I dissect and disprove U17, then present the reconciliation of the paradox.
TO U17:
The trouble with math is someone can write an excellent reasoning with advanced techniques and notation. However, if there's a single critical mistake, the whole thing is spoiled. Who would want to drink filtered purified, cold refreshing water, after someone put in a drop of used motor oil? It's perfectly acceptable to multiply by a non zero variable or expression. This spoils U17's otherwise beautiful reasoning. Multiplying by an expression which IS zero, (x = 0) can create extra solutions. Check x =-1 on the step P3,
(-1) ^3 ?=? (-1)^2 - (-1),
-1 ?=? 1 +1
doesn't work even after we multiplied by x. The extra solution must have come from somewhere else.
SPOILER ALERT- THE RESOLUTION OF THE PARADOX IS BELOW.
Consider working on the question a while, per Lockhart, then after you've worked on it for a while. Try to rediscover the challenge & creativity of math, then come back here to read.
Hint: The truth is x^3 = -1 contains the solutions.
We need to delve into complex numbers though.
This particular equation has 3 solutions in the set of complex numbers.
http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=x^3%20%3D%20-1&t=ff3tb01
x = -1 is real, and reals are a subset of complex numbers.
http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i={x%20%3D%3D%20%28-1%29^%281%2F3%29}%2C%20{x%20%3D%3D%20-%28-1%29^%282%2F3%29}&t=ff3tb01
x = (1 +- i * root 3) / 2 are two solutions. (should
See DeMoivre's theorem (convert to polar coordinates or see the graph), multiply it out by hand or check with WolframAlpha.com to confirm x^3 =-1
And the two complex solutions are our answer.
http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=x%3D%3D+1%2F2+(1-i+sqrt(3))%2C+x^2+-+x++%2B+1%3D
The original reasoning has two oversights.
A. x = -1 is an extraneous solution akin to
y = 5,
y^2 = 25,
y = +- 5 and assuming y can be -5 or +5.
Apparently when taking a cube root, we need to check for all solutions if they are extraneous (extra) solutions which rules out x = -1.
B. Failure to consider complex solutions when taking a cube root. (Not commonly taught, but hidden right next to the complex properties which are commonly taught)
Aughh, this properly formatted text doesn't display properly in the preview screen.