Weight of an Elephant

[judocallin02]

Good Day!In this problem, we are asked to find the error in the process of how it's done.

Let e be the weight of the elephant and a the weight of the ant. Let e-a=d.Consequently e=a+d. Multiply each side of e=a+d by e-a.Then simplify

e(e-a)=(a+d)(e-a)
e^2-ea=ae+de-a^2-da
e^2-ea-de=ae-a^2-da
e(e-a-d)=a(e-a-d)
e=a. Thus the weight of the elephant equals the weight of the ant


I have thoughts why "de" was transferred to the other side of the equation though it seems correct.

 

[Loren]

e-a-d =0
To get your final line, you divided by 0, which is against the law.