Why Dividing by Zero Can Get You into Trouble?
Since childhood, we’ve all understood that dividing any number by zero is impossible. In mathematics, division by zero is considered as infinite (e.g. 10/0). But why won’t the computer accept it? After dividing by zero, the result is undefined. If you keep dividing any number by smaller numbers, the value of the result keeps increasing.
But why is it so? Why is it impossible to divide by a number as simple as zero? In this blog we are going to find the answer for “WHY ?” question.
Before that,
Let’s discuss the definition of the division as from the computer.
What is Division ?
If “a” divided by “b” = “c,” and “c” is unique, then “b” times “c” equals “a,” according to the concept of division.
If computer wants to divide any number, it simply subtract the given number until it meets zero.
For example,
So, to get to zero the computer must 4 times subtract 5 from 20. Also, to get zero for value 15, the computer must 5 times subtract 3. This is how computer do the division. Same way, if computer go through the multiplication, it do the addition.
In this case, 20 divided by 5 is 4, and 4 multiplied by 5 equals 20. 15 divided by 3 equals 5, while 5 multiplied by 3 equals 15.
Let’s Divide by Zero
Math teachers will teach their students that dividing any number or integer by itself always equals one. Consider the following scenario:
According to mathematical theory, 1 divided by 0 is infinite, and 2 divided by 0 is infinite as well. Using the same multiplication logic, infinite into 0 equals 1 and infinite into 0 equals 2. This means that 1 equals 2. This isn’t possible. As a result, any number divided by zero is not considered infinite by a computer.
Why?
We can see, when we try to reach a zero, we go towards to the zero. The value is going upwards. The result will getting very large.
If we go with the negative value, the result will getting very small.
As shown in the diagram above, if we try to reach zero by x, the y value will rise, as will the negative value. As a result, we can’t even define infinite values, which is why they’re called undefined values. As a result, we consider divide by zero to be undefinable or undefined.
References
2020, Why division by zero is not infinity, [Video] — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sCW5dbk4C_o
