i once believed that simplifying an equation yields an equation that is the same as the original. However, an equation such as y=(x-3)/(x-3) is undefined at 3 where as y=1 is not. why?
Name:
Anonymous2006-10-26 18:48
zero divisors, buddy.
y = (x-3)/(x-3)
=> y(x-3)=(x-3)
=> y(x-3)=1(x-3)
cancellation laws only hold for ab=ac when you know a is not 0
x-3 is not zero for everything except 3. when you multiply both sides of the equation y = 1 by (x-3) youre potentially multiplying by zero, so everything you get from that equation depends on whether or not what you multiplied by is equal to zero or not.