RE: Dividing by zero
October 24, 2014 at 9:06 pm
(This post was last modified: October 24, 2014 at 9:07 pm by Magilla.)
I think of division as follows. Division may be expressed in various ways. For example: (24 ÷ 6) OR (24/6) OR (24 x 6E-1)
In these very simple example formats, what we are saying is: If we have 24 items and split them into 6 equal groups, how many items in each group?
The answer is of course 4 items in each group.
In more abstract terms, we might think of it as: If we begin with the number 24, and rip it apart into 6 equal portions, then what is the number which resides in each of those portions?
Again the answer is of course, 4 items in each portion.
We can divide "distribute" items into equally, 1 group, and the result will the total number of items in the resultant group, (dividing by 1).
We can divide "disperse" a number equally, into 1 portion, and the result will the number itself, (again division by 1).
It makes no sense to divide items or a number into zero groups or portions. It just does not compute. So division by zero is undefined.
Any equation we might formulate which implies a division by zero contains an undefined process, and is flawed because of it.
x = 0/0 cannot result in any number at all, because /0 is undefined from the get-go. You can't divide a number zero ways, even when it's zero at the outset.
In these very simple example formats, what we are saying is: If we have 24 items and split them into 6 equal groups, how many items in each group?
The answer is of course 4 items in each group.
In more abstract terms, we might think of it as: If we begin with the number 24, and rip it apart into 6 equal portions, then what is the number which resides in each of those portions?
Again the answer is of course, 4 items in each portion.
We can divide "distribute" items into equally, 1 group, and the result will the total number of items in the resultant group, (dividing by 1).
We can divide "disperse" a number equally, into 1 portion, and the result will the number itself, (again division by 1).
It makes no sense to divide items or a number into zero groups or portions. It just does not compute. So division by zero is undefined.
Any equation we might formulate which implies a division by zero contains an undefined process, and is flawed because of it.
x = 0/0 cannot result in any number at all, because /0 is undefined from the get-go. You can't divide a number zero ways, even when it's zero at the outset.
There are no atheists in terrorist training camps.
