# Hydraulic press equilibrium equation inconsistency

Suppose we have a hydraulic press with a smaller area $$A_1$$ and a bigger area $$A_2$$, with the smaller area being higher with a height difference of $$\Delta h$$.

We first calculate the pressure at point A. By Pascal's law, the increase in pressure at point A comes from the pressure created by forces $$F$$ and the weight $$G_m$$ of the mass $$m$$. These pressures get added at each point in the liquid, so for point A we get $$p_A = F_1/A_1+F_2/A_2$$.

With similar reasoning for point B we get $$p_B = F_1/A_1+F_2/A_2+\rho g \Delta h$$ where we have now taken into account the hydrostatic pressure from the height difference.

However, if the system is now in equilibrium, at the area $$A_2$$ we must have equality with pressure from above and pressure from below, so that the forces acting on both sides are equal. This would give $$F_1/A_1$$ for the pressure from above and $$p_A = F_1/A_1+F_2/A_2$$ for the pressure from below. This would imply that $$F_2=0$$ which is a contradiction.

Where am I going wrong? I'm stuck with this and there must be a fundamental misunderstanding somewhere in there. I would really appreciate any pointers.