Why Is 0/0 Considered Indeterminate If Division by Zero Is Undefined

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SUMMARY

The expression 0/0 is classified as an indeterminate form rather than simply undefined due to its context in calculus, particularly in limits. Indeterminate forms arise when evaluating limits, such as in the case of the limit of 2x/x as x approaches 0, which results in the form 0/0. Textbooks often denote these forms with brackets, like [0/0], to clarify that they should not be interpreted as numerical values.

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how can 0/0 be indeterminate form if division by zero is undefined. The expression 0/0 rather be undefined.
 
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Suyogya said:
how can 0/0 be indeterminate form if division by zero is undefined. The expression 0/0 rather be undefined.
That's correct -- ##\frac 0 0## is not defined. Indeterminate forms always arise in the context of limits such as ##\lim_{x \to 0} \frac {2x} x##. This limit has the form of ##\frac 0 0##, but that is not saying that ##\frac 0 0## is a meaningful answer.

Some textbooks write indeterminate forms in brackets, such as ##[\frac 0 0 ]## or ##[\frac \infty \infty ]##, just to emphasize that they don't intend that these forms be interpreted as numbers.
 
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