Dividing by zero

[Chas]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Division_by_zero

Yeah. I've seen that but it doesn't make sense to me. Why not say 1*0 is undefined and 1/0=0?

Simple explanation.

Take 1/x
Make x smaller and smaller
1/x gets larger and larger
As x approaches 0, 1/x approaches infinity
So one can say that 1/0 is infinite, or undefined.

Take 1*x
Make x smaller and smaller
1*x gets smaller and smaller
As x approaches 0, 1*x approaches zero
So one sees that 1*0 is 0.

If you graph them (y= 1/x and y=1*x), it is immediately obvious.