Breaking the integrity with differentiation

Calculus Level 2

Emma followed the steps below , and ended up with an unacceptable solution.

Step 1: x^{2}=x * x (x times x)

Step 2: x^{2}=x+x+x+... (x added x times)

Step 3: (taking the derivative of both sides) 2x = 1+1+1+..... (1 added x times )

Step 4: 2x=x

Step 5: 2=1

Which first step in the sequence led to the unacceptable result.

Step 1 Step 3 Step 5 Step 2 Step 4

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1 solution

Ashwin Kumar
Aug 9, 2015

Answer: Step 2 x^{2}=x+x+x+... (x added x times) is valid only for natural values of x. The statement (2.5)^{2}=2.5 added 2.5 times,, has no meaning as any thing added 2.5 times doesn't make any sense.

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