First, I had a clock on my bedroom wall that ran backwards. It was a gift from my parents. I was around 8 years old at the time. (I had seen a clock like that somewhere, and wanted one.) The numbers were readable, not reversed. The "1" was to the left of the 12, and the hands ran counterclockwise (anti-clockwise). I had no trouble reading it, but my parents preferred to look in the mirror on the opposite wall. It was still running when I went to college. I had it in various homes until the clock motor finally failed. The clock looked like a large plastic pocket watch with a chain and fob. The fob was a sign that said "Bar is Open" and "Bar is Closed". My parents did not include the chain and fob when they hung the clock for me. It was merely a jumbo watch on the wall ... that ran backwards.
Second, not all screws and bolts are "righty-tighty, lefty-loosey". The screws/bolts that mount the blade on certain saw designs turn backwards. They work lefty-tighty, righty-loosey. Left-blade handheld circular saws are one example. Many cordless circular saws are left-bladed and have that mounting screw/bolt. Right-tilt table saws are another example.
Finally, I can prove that 2 = 1.
| Assume x = y | Initial assumption |
| x * x = y * x | Multiply both sides by x |
| x^2 = yx | Same thing, different representations |
| x^2 - y^2 = yx - y^2 | Subtract y^2 from both sides |
| (x + y) * (x - y) = yx - y^2 | Simple factoring, left side |
| (x + y) * (x - y) = y * (x - y) | Simple factoring, right side |
| (x + y) = y | Divide both sides by (x - y) |
| (y + y) = y | Replace x with y. See initial assumption. |
| 2y = y | Same thing, different representation |
| 2 = 1 Q.E.D. | (Divide both sides by y) |
I will leave it as an exercise to the reader. Don't do others' homework ...
Edit, added a few minutes later: I just searched and found many different backwards clock designs. If you want a backwards clock, they are easy to find.
