Is Alice's Arithmetic Wrong?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the mathematical expression 0/0, exploring its classification as either undefined or indeterminate. Participants engage in a debate regarding the implications of these terms, their definitions, and the contexts in which they apply, with references to mathematical functions and limits.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants assert that 0/0 is indeterminate, emphasizing that it does not have a specific value.
  • Others argue that 0/0 is undefined, noting that it is not in the domain of the division function.
  • A few participants differentiate between "undefined" and "indeterminate," suggesting that the latter refers to a subclass of undefined values.
  • One participant humorously claims that 0/0 equals 42, indicating a playful approach to the discussion.
  • Several comments reflect on the confusion and lack of a constant answer regarding the expression, with some participants acknowledging the complexity of the topic.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on whether 0/0 should be classified as undefined or indeterminate, with multiple competing views remaining throughout the discussion.

Contextual Notes

Participants express uncertainty regarding the definitions and implications of the terms "undefined" and "indeterminate," and the discussion includes references to mathematical contexts that may not be fully resolved.

  • #31
Danger said:
Alright then... he's in.


ONly if i have something to say about it.

He can stay, but the clichés have to be used on a limited basis. And i say this as a huge fan of the Hitchhiker's Series.
 
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  • #32
franznietzsche said:
He can stay, but the clichés have to be used on a limited basis. And i say this as a huge fan of the Hitchhiker's Series.

Ugh, I'm glad not everyone is this rude.

Moonbear, there is chocolate, but where are those biology lessons?!
 
  • #33
SpaceTiger said:
Moonbear, there is chocolate, but where are those biology lessons?!
Since Moonbear's not hear, I'll take the chocolate. mmmf, *chomp*, snorf I know Moonbear won't mind. :rolleyes:

Good chocolate SpaceTiger. :approve:
 
  • #34
Evo said:
Since Moonbear's not hear, I'll take the chocolate. mmmf, *chomp*, snorf I know Moonbear won't mind. :rolleyes:

Good chocolate SpaceTiger. :approve:

Hey! I was saving that for biology lessons!

Bah, now I'll have to settle for learning philosophy or something. :frown:
 
  • #35
SpaceTiger said:
Hey! I was saving that for biology lessons!

Bah, now I'll have to settle for learning philosophy or something. :frown:
Hey, biology was one of my strongest subjects. :-p Of course Moonbear is a *bit* more knowledgeable in that field. :rolleyes:

Ok, I didnt eat them all. (puts the leftover chocolate back) :frown:

No one brings me chocolate. :cry:
 
  • #36
Evo said:
No one brings me chocolate. :cry:

Alright, what can you teach me? :-p
 
  • #37
SpaceTiger said:
Alright, what can you teach me? :-p
Optical Networking. I know, not as much fun as biology.

Hey, I am a decent portrait artist. I could draw your picture in return for chocolate. :biggrin:
 
  • #38
Evo said:
Optical Networking. I know, not as much fun as biology.

Hey, I am a decent portrait artist. I could draw your picture in return for chocolate. :biggrin:

Both of those things would be acceptable. I don't even know what optical networking is, so I suppose there's a lot to learn. :biggrin:
 
  • #39
SpaceTiger said:
Both of those things would be acceptable. I don't even know what optical networking is, so I suppose there's a lot to learn. :biggrin:
Alrighty Then! :approve:

Bring lots of chocolate...DARK chocolate. :biggrin:

I must go to sleep now. :zzz:
 
  • #40
Evo said:
mmmf, *chomp*, snorf
Now you're <snorfing> as well as <snorting>? Is that a typo, or are you developing an accent?

SpaceTiger said:
Hey! I was saving that for biology lessons!

Bah, now I'll have to settle for learning philosophy or something. :frown:
Not to worry. Moonie always asks for a bribe just in case you're unfamiliar with her reputation, but it certainly isn't necessary.

Evo said:
Of course Moonbear is a *bit* more knowledgeable in that field. :rolleyes:
What's the superlative form of understatement?

Evo said:
No one brings me chocolate. :cry:
Now, now, darling... you know I'd bring you all the chocolate you wanted, but I don't want to give you any ideas. It's poisonous to dogs, you know.
 
  • #41
Evo said:
Hey, biology was one of my strongest subjects. :-p Of course Moonbear is a *bit* more knowledgeable in that field. :rolleyes:

Ok, I didnt eat them all. (puts the leftover chocolate back) :frown:

No one brings me chocolate. :cry:

Hey, who ate my chocolate!
 
  • #42
Hmm I saw the large number of posts and I thought this turned into some deep philosophical discussion about what 0/0 really is. Then I remembered it was GD :smile:

Sorry Euphoriet, guess you will not find a consistent answer here either. I personally think, who cares? Call it whatever you want :smile:
 
  • #43
mattmns said:
Hmm I saw the large number of posts and I thought this turned into some deep philosophical discussion about what 0/0 really is. Then I remembered it was GD :smile:

Sorry Euphoriet, guess you will not find a consistent answer here either. I personally think, who cares? Call it whatever you want :smile:
Well, it's consistent that the thread went off topic. :biggrin:
 
  • #44
What the hell happen to my thread? I left for a while..and come back to this.. hahah I see it's three pages long so I expected a long debate of three pages and come to find a three post response to the actual topic hahaha.
 
  • #45
Euphoriet said:
and come to find a three post response to the actual topic hahaha.
And bloody lucky to get that many despite our best efforts. :biggrin:
 
  • #46
Euphoriet said:
What the hell happen to my thread? I left for a while..and come back to this.. hahah I see it's three pages long so I expected a long debate of three pages and come to find a three post response to the actual topic hahaha.

Oh, sorry. I'm pretty sure I understand well enough now to help add a bit more to the debate on the original topic.

It's indeterminate.

Wait, no, it's undefined.

Um, no, it was right the first time, it's indeterminate.

No, no, no, what was I thinking, it's undefined.

Indeterminate isn't the same as undefined.

Undefined isn't the same as indeterminate.

Saying indeterminate isn't the same as undefined isn't the same as saying undefined isn't the same as indeterminate.

Or, um, it might be.

:rolleyes: Does that help? :biggrin:
 
  • #47
Now wait, according to Space Tiger, 0/0=42 --> 0 = 0 x 42.

Looks okay to me.

oh yes, Dr. Math says
Division by zero is an operation for which you cannot find an answer, so it is disallowed.

:biggrin:

How about illegal? immoral? despicable? contemptible?
 
Last edited:
  • #48
Ivan Seeking said:
How about illegal? immoral? despicable? contemptible?

That's it! Dividing 0 by 0 is immoral. :smile:
 
  • #49
I knew dividing by zero was a sin, I bet it even says it in the bible.
 
  • #50
I think dividing by 0 causes cancer in HP calculators..
 
  • #51
Moonbear said:
That's it! Dividing 0 by 0 is immoral. :smile:
This would've made someone happy ! :wink:

Seriously, division by 0 is not defined in the reals.
 
  • #52
SpaceTiger said:
Fools, all of you.

0/0 = 42

Point, game, match...SpaceTiger.
franznietzsche said:
*sigh*

Really, its almost clichéd by this point.
Not so cliched that anyone knows what it means. Barely anyone even knows this is a Lewis Carroll reference, let alone what the question is (Douglas Addams gives a hint in his book, not the answer).

And if we're voting on it, I say we make division by zero immoral.
 
Last edited:
  • #53
mattmns said:
I knew dividing by zero was a sin, I bet it even says it in the bible.

Which brings up another question... is it a sin to sine?

Does that imply that cosecanting is the way to eternal happiness?

If that is the case... what about the other left out trigonometric functions?
 
  • #54
We also need to consider the Cardinality of sin.
 
  • #55
Ugh. Talk about going off on a tangent...
 
  • #56
Hurkyl said:
Ugh. Talk about going off on a tangent...

:smile: a little too obtuse for you tastes?
 
  • #57
An acute observation as always.
 
  • #58
I saw that; you should have left it.

I secant the emotion.
 
  • #59
Bah, I need to be quicker on the edit! I was going to save it until I didn't have to shoehorn it in as much. :frown:
 
  • #60
foiled again
 

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