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Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!harpo!floyd!clyde!ihnp4!inuxc!pur-ee!CSvax:Pucc-H:aeq
From: CSvax:Pucc-H:aeq@pur-ee.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.jokes,net.math
Subject: funny "proof"
Message-ID: <357@pucc-h>
Date: Fri, 4-Nov-83 03:34:41 EST
Article-I.D.: pucc-h.357
Posted: Fri Nov  4 03:34:41 1983
Date-Received: Mon, 7-Nov-83 02:26:16 EST
Organization: Purdue University Computing Center
Lines: 18

Bertrand Russell came up with this one to demonstrate the law of logic that a
false statement can imply anything (F->T, F->F both work):

>From the false statement "10=7", prove the false statement "Bertrand Russell
is the Pope".

Proof:
          10 = 7
           6 = 3   (subtracting 4 from both sides)
           2 = 1   (dividing by 3)

Consider the set S = { Russell, Pope }.  Now the CARDINALity of S, |S| = 2.
But 2 = 1; therefore |S| = 1.  Hence the two supposedly distinct members of S
are actually the same, i.e. Russell = Pope.

Q.E.D.

-- Jeff Sargent/...pur-ee!pucc-h:aeq