> 1/0 = 0 is a totally sensible convention
Except that for all other numbers we have 1/x * x = 1, while 0*0 = 0. Defining division by zero this way breaks existing rules.
Except that for all other numbers we have 1/x * x = 1, while 0*0 = 0. Defining division by zero this way breaks existing rules.
Calling the color of the sky blue is just a matter of convention as well, but if one random teacher starts calling it green, she’s doing a terrible disservice to her students. It doesn’t matter that there exists some languages without a difference between blue and green.
Right — because it’s impossible to have an inverse of zero multiplication.
Eg, 0 = 0 + 0 -> 1 = 1 + 1 -> 0 = 1 if you have a multiplicative inverse to 0, and hence you have collapsed your entire system to a single value.
These are students we’re still teaching that basic algebraic structure to — that it’s not possible to have a multiplicative inverse to zero.
Calling that a “convention” is wrong.
1/1000000 = 0.000001
...
1/10 = 0.1
1/1 = 1
1/0.1 = 10
1/0.0001 = 1000
1/0.0000001 = 1000000
...
1/0 = ... 0? WTF
ceil(0.000001) = 1
ceil(0) =... 0? Wtf?
If you know more than others, that's great, but in that case the thing to do is to share some of what you know, so others can learn. If you don't want to do that, that's fine, but in that case please don't post. Putdowns and swipes only degrade the discussion.
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