Erm, okay...I would just wanna say...

Just think this
Apples and Oranges are all put together. How can u use x to represent the number of apples, and ALSO to represent the number of oranges? You have to use another variable, for example 'y', to represent the oranges.

no matter wat happen, y cannot be x. they can be equal in figures, but not the things they are representing. now apply this back into the things u 2 are debating over. =)


^^

yes. u said it, DIFFERENT REPRESENTATIONS, but NOT the same VARIABLE. they just have the same FIGURE.