Geometry: Common Core (15th Edition)

Published by Prentice Hall
ISBN 10: 0133281159
ISBN 13: 978-0-13328-115-6

Chapter 2 - Reasoning and Proof - 2-5 Reasoning in Algebra and Geometry - Practice and Problem-Solving Exercises - Page 118: 25

Answer

The error is in step 5, where the Division Property of Equality was used to divide by $(b-a)$. Since it was given that $b=a$, we can calculate that $b-a=0$. Division by 0 is undefined, so this step of the proof is invalid.

Work Step by Step

Since division by 0 is undefined, you cannot include a step in the proof that would involve division by 0.
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