Short and sweet.

[Anubis]

Dear Algebra, stop asking us to find your "x"...she's not coming back, and we don't know "y" either!

[hutch]

OK Anubis ... here is my favorite mathematical anomaly

1. x=y(given) therefore

2. xx=xy(multiply both sides by x)

3. xx-yy= xy-yy(subtract yy from both sides)

4. (x-y)(x+y)=y(x-y) perfect binomial square/factor(do the math...it checks out)

5. x+y = y (divide by x-y)

6. y+y = y (substitute from the first line)

7. therefore 2y = 1y then divide by y & voila

8. 2 = 1 (magic)

[bigbadbrother]

I would rather not. thanks

[hutch]

the anomaly is created when step 4 becomes 5 by dividing by x-y.... you see if the given x=y in step 1 is true then x-y equals zero

... & everyone knows that you can't divide by zero...lol