- #36
jgens
Gold Member
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- 50
chalky00 said:so (sqrt 1 - sqrt 1) is different to
x=sqrt 1
x-x
No! Hopefully without confusing you too much, if we let [itex]x = \sqrt{1}[/itex] then [itex]x=1[/itex] because the [itex]\sqrt[/itex] operation retrieves the principal (positive) square root. However, if [itex]x[/itex] is a number such that [itex]x^2 = 1[/itex] then [itex]x=1[/itex] or [itex]x=-1[/itex]. Now, using this second definition of [itex]x[/itex], once we choose a value for [itex]x[/itex] we need to stick with it. We can't have [itex]x = 1[/itex] and [itex]x = -1[/itex] at the same time because this would violate the law of non-contradiction and you're already assuming that [itex]1 = -1[/itex].