Question

Why can't you divide by zero?

Answer 1

Is this a question that is for school or random?

Answer 2

School. I've gotta take an over the phone exam with my teacher (homeschooled :P) soon and I don't see anything like this in my previous/current lessons. But t's a question in my exam.

Answer 3

are you currently doing your exam ?

Answer 4

No, it's over the phone. I've gotta take it in about an hour.

Answer 5

There are several reasons for this. The simplest is that it just doesn't make any sense.

Answer 6

What do you think a reason is @KyTheNerd

Answer 7

Cause this is something that YOU need to do cause it's your exam not ours.

Answer 8

I am not trying to be rude though.

Answer 9

I'm honestly not sure. Nothing like this was in my previous lessons. All I know is that we cannot divide by zero. .~.

Answer 10

alright. I'm just reminding everyone that we are not allowed to help during exams or any kind of assessments because Openstudy has an anti-cheating policy.

just a quick hint: anything multiplied by a zero is always a zero.

goodluck :)

Answer 11

Oh, I know that...I wasn't looking to cheat. Just to have a better understanding about it. Thanks for the hint. lol

Answer 12

Dividing by 0 is in general undefined.... but I will try to give a concrete example.

I have a pizza, and I want to split it into some peace. (Splitting it into 1 piece, means not splitting it at all) You can take 3/4 or any (p/q)'th part, but what would dividing by 0 mean in this case?

Also, another reason for not having the answer for when you divide by 0, is take a function f(x)=1/x, or, for any c, f(x)=c/x. You will have a point at x=(any number besides zero)

(in this case, \(\displaystyle \lim_{x\rightarrow0^+}(1/x)=\infty\) and \(\displaystyle \lim_{x\rightarrow0^-}(1/x)=-\infty\),\) and then 1/0 = ?? (no solution) )

Answer 13

like multiplying by zero it will be zero. but this is dividing...does that help a little?

Answer 14

oh, another reason,
\(\large\color{black}{ \displaystyle C\times 0=0 }\)
but when you check,
\(\large\color{black}{ \displaystyle 0\div 0\ne C }\)

Answer 15

Hmm, I think I sort of have a better understanding of it. I usually understand things better when I'm given examples. I should have mentioned that from the start. I have some troubles focusing, especially with Math. But thank you! :) That really helps.

Answer 16

1/0 just doesn't make sense.... there is no justified value. (more?)

Answer 17

I found another link

http://mathforum.org/dr.math/faq/faq.divideby0.html

Answer 18

read it;)

Answer 19

Okay. Thanks so much! :D

Answer 20

yw