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Re: Math question Isaac Send a noteboard - 28/04/2011 02:21:04 PM
The internet tells me that 0/0 is undefined. Why isn't it one? Isn't anything divided by itself one? How about ?/? ?


You're just not allowed to divide by zero, it's defined as having 'no meaning'. You can, in calculus, talk about how something behaves as a variable approaches 0 or infinity, which can often basically amount to 0/0 or ?/? but that only work with variables involved. 1/X ->0 as X->? and ? when X=0, but you never actually get there, some series will converge, others will diverge, etc, like y=[X+1]/X^2 as X->0 will approach ? and as x -> ? will approach zero, you wouldn't actually plug in [0+1]/0^2

You can get spurious proofs this way too

A=B, B=C, thus A=C
0x1=0
0x2=0
thus 0x1=0x2

or the other end of nonsense
A=B thus AC=BC and A/B=1
Next, if AC=BC then A/B=C/C... and of course both =1, but...
let C=0
A/B=C/C=0/0 or 1/1? which is it? 0/0 or 1/1? Well it's 1/1 and that's why the property of equality explicitly states that while A=B thus AC=BC that A/C=B/C is true unless C=0

So, as has been mentioned by others and the net, its undefined, there's the quick walkthrough on why, anything divided by zero is not allowed and anything divided by infinite depends on the circumstances because infinity isn't a number, its something you approach, so something divided by infinity only equals zero if the denominator is approaching infinity faster than the numerator is, X^2/X doesn't equal zero when X approaches infinity, the numerator gets bigger faster so it approaches infinity.



Its 4:40 in the morning and I need an answer to this question. (8


Math and late at night are usually bad ideas, I've heard and believe from anecdotal experience that your brain handles math better earlier in your day, so better to set the alarm early then stay up late
The intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honors the servant and has forgotten the gift.
- Albert Einstein

King of Cairhien 20-7-2
Chancellor of the Landsraad, Archduke of Is'Mod
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Math question - 28/04/2011 09:40:34 AM 606 Views
Both are undefined. - 28/04/2011 10:04:55 AM 447 Views
Because 0 divided by anything is 0. So the answer is both 1 and 0. Therefore, undefined. *NM* - 28/04/2011 10:08:44 AM 179 Views
This isn't really true. 0/x=0 when x!=0. - 28/04/2011 10:22:04 AM 426 Views
Yeah, I levelled down a bit on purpose. *NM* - 28/04/2011 10:36:47 AM 172 Views
Short answer: you can't divide by zero or infinity. Longer answer: you can if you use Calculus. - 28/04/2011 10:28:18 AM 418 Views
The limit of 0/x would be zero - 28/04/2011 01:55:03 PM 412 Views
I'm going to go with you on this one. *NM* - 28/04/2011 07:37:44 PM 175 Views
Oh, limits. - 28/04/2011 08:05:11 PM 449 Views
Re: Math question - 28/04/2011 02:21:04 PM 453 Views
Yes, late night math is not a good idea. - 28/04/2011 08:14:48 PM 500 Views
For all the reasons stated. - 28/04/2011 06:15:27 PM 383 Views
Re: For all the reasons stated. - 09/05/2011 05:56:59 PM 432 Views
Divide By Cucumber Error. Please reinstall universe and reboot. *NM* - 28/04/2011 08:11:22 PM 206 Views
But I threw away the disk! - 28/04/2011 08:15:25 PM 380 Views
Thanks, Hex. *NM* - 28/04/2011 08:44:35 PM 154 Views

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