Ask A Scientist Mathematics Archive

Author:      jason lawton

Someone in my algebra 2 class thinks that 2 = 0.  I was wondering if that
would be true in any of the number systems.               

Response #:  1 of 2
Author:      jlu

Sure, a binary number system modulo 2.

Response #:  2 of 2
Author:      rcwinther

I do not think jlu means "binary" in his answer.  One writes "2 = 0 (mod 2)"
where an equal sign with three lines is used instead of the regular equal
sign that I have typed.  Is modular arithmetic taught to algebra 2 students?

When I first saw this question, I thought it might be a reference to
something similar to the "2 = 1" pseudoproof.