auros:

In particular, McCain's "equation" has a unique answer for Y(X). You have:

140,000 - ( X * 16/X ) = Y(X)

The two Xs cancel out, leaving Y(X) = 140,000 - 16

Actually, the McCain equation is

140,000 - [T(x) * 16/x] = Y(x),

where T(x) is some undefined function of x. As long as it's undefined, I wonder why he didn't roll up 16*T(x)/x into another function of x, say R(x):

140,000 - R(x) = Y(x).

Seems much simpler, and it illustrates the uselessness of his equation, since T(x) is not known.