Dividing by zero

[Aractus]

I'm not a math wiz. Why is it you can multiply by zero and get zero but you can't divide by zero?

Why doesn't 1/0 equal 0 but 1*0 does? Is there a reason or is it arbitrary?

Because you can't split any non-zero number into zero groups. Imagine I give you 2 apples and tell you to divide into 1 group, that's easy. Imagine I say divide into 4.5 groups - a bit more difficult, but you can do it. You'd first cut each apple into 225 slices, then take the 450 slices and put 100 into the 4x whole groups and 50 into the 0.5 group.

Okay you get the idea. Now I say divide into zero groups - it can't be done.

When dealing with fractions you tend to say it the other way around to make more sense, eg. 2 / 0.5 - I want you to divide the apples into groups of 0.5 apples (you end up with 4 groups). So you can also say it this way - divide the two apples into groups of zero. Can't be done, even with infinite groups you still have 2 apples left over yet to be divided.