> I would like to point out something not usually thought of: What is 1/0? I
> notice that as the denominator approaches zero, the result approaches
> infinity. 1 dividen into millionths results in a million pieces. 1 divided
> into bajillionths results in a bajillion pieces.
> Just because our digital mathematics aren't up to the task doesn't mean
the
> result doesn't exist. The result of dividing 1 by 0 should be infinity.
Since when does the fact that
limit(x->0 +) of 1/x = infinity
imply that
1/0 = infinity
? It doesn't. Limits at a point of a function have absolutely nothing to do
with the value of a function at that point.
Also note that if you're going from the left hand side (negative numbers),
it approaches *negative* infinity. So the limit of 1/x doesn't even exist at
x=0 unless you specify a direction.
anything divided by zero is undefined. Not just because computers can't
handle it, but because it's mathematically considered to be undefined.
- Slime
[ http://www.slimeland.com/ ]
Post a reply to this message
|