Re: Basic answer, and refutation, end of arguments

From: David Kastrup (dak_at_gnu.org)
Date: 10/01/04 

Date: Fri, 01 Oct 2004 05:02:30 +0200

David Hartley <me9@privacy.net> writes:

> In message <x58yar2vam.fsf@lola.goethe.zz>, David Kastrup
> <dak@gnu.org> writes
> >...
>>Like 8 = (sqrt(sqrt(3))-1)(sqrt(sqrt(3))+1)(sqrt(3)+1)
> >...
>>Just diddling. I might be completely wrong.
>
> I'm afraid you are.
>
> (sqrt(sqrt(3))-1)(sqrt(sqrt(3))+1)(sqrt(3)+1) = (sqrt(3))^2 - 1 = 2

Well, since 2 is a prime factor of 2, this does not invalidate this
part of the example (even though it casts a bad light on my
calculation skills), but I'd think it likely that this is not the only
error.

Since more capable people have come up with proved counterexamples
(instead of mere guesswork), I just withdraw my contribution which is
likely to contain more errors. I should have known better in the
first place... 

-- 
David Kastrup, Kriemhildstr. 15, 44793 Bochum
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