Wolfram Alpha proves that N = N - 1

Wolfram Alpha proves that N = N - 1(wolframalpha.com)

1 points by uninverted 16 years ago | 3 comments

apotheon 16 years ago |

. . . but you can't tell anyone about it except by linking to it, because Wolfram Alpha copyrighted it.

uninverted 16 years ago |

This is very dubious (proving the opposite is easier), but it was quite a lot of fun.

skermes 16 years ago | |

I can see how it may have been fun, but it doesn't even really rate as dubious.

Not only is one of your premises (a/a = b/b -> a=b) clearly false, but your conclusion doesn't mean anything.

a=b ^ a=b -> n=(n-1) ^ n!=(n-1) is just a contradiction. Your first and second terms together imply n=(n-1) which directly contradicts your third term.

I'm afraid you've simply proved a contradiction, which just means (because of, well, proof by contradiction) that you're arguments are flawed.