First, let me say that I have degrees or anything. I'm just out of hig school and took regular math the whole time I was there. I am not a mathematician or a numerologist.
But, I do have a theory.[;)]
Could we say that 6/3 is the same as saying "six divided into three equal parts"?
If so, would 6/0 be the same as saying "six divided into zero equal parts"?
Since a nonexisting thing cannot have a numerical value, wouldn't 6/0=0?
jcsd
Aug27-03, 06:24 PM
I'm sorry it's just not that simple, you can define y in y = x/n as the number of sets containing n units that are needed to be added together to make up x.
Also for example n(x/n) = x, but now you have 0*(0) = x which doesn't fit with this for any value of x other than 0, or another example y = x/n as n tends to 0, y tends to infinity. Therefore x/0 is undefined.
Pirwzwhomper
Aug27-03, 07:33 PM
a(b)=c so c/b=a
How does 3(0)=0? You cannot say that 0/0=3.
I was always told that any number times zero equalled zero.
jcsd
Aug27-03, 07:44 PM
That example was just to show you why having x/0 = 0 leads to inconsistencies, 0*0 = 0.
Pirwzwhomper
Aug27-03, 08:37 PM
Hmmm. There has to be a better answer than undefined. Don't know why, but it just doesn't seem right. Maybe someday . . .
HallsofIvy
Aug27-03, 10:39 PM
1)"Since a nonexisting thing cannot have a numerical value, wouldn't 6/0=0?"
Are you saying that 0 is not a number?
2)"I was always told that any number times zero equalled zero."
Yes, that's exactly WHY 6/0 cannot be 0: 0*0 is not equal to 6.