Math Is Fun Forum

cranincu

Member

Registered: 2009-12-29

Posts: 1

Simple Division Question

Ignoring limits and what's just stated in the problem, the answer is undefined right?

bobbym

bumpkin

From: Bumpkinland

Registered: 2009-04-12

Posts: 109,606

Re: Simple Division Question

Hi cranincu;

Yes, I would say it is undefined. The 1 / 0 is a no no. Interestingly Computer Algebra systems will evaluate it as 0, because they work under the assumption that 1 / 0 is infinity and 1 / ∞  is  0.

Most programming languages would definitely spit out an error message on 1 / (1/0 ). Let's see what other people say.

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In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.

mathsyperson

Moderator

Registered: 2005-06-22

Posts: 4,900

Re: Simple Division Question

Yes, I'm pretty sure that's undefined.

You can say that the limit is 0 though, because 1/(1/x) = x, for all x≠0.

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Why did the vector cross the road?
It wanted to be normal.