If you've ever wondered why you can't divide by zero, here is an explanation that uses what you learned in elementary school to help you understand this concept.
In elementary school, you learned that division is just multiplication fact families in an alternate order. In other words, 6/3 = 2 because 2 x 3 = 6.
We can use fact families to find out about dividing by zero.
0/7 = ?? The answer is 0, because 0 x 7 = 0.
What about 7/0? If you put this in your calculator, you'll get an error. Why?
Well, if we use fact families, 7/0 = ?? What number can you multiply by 0 to get 7? There isn't any number. So the answer is undefined.
Now you may be wondering about 0/0? The calculator still gives you an error. Shouldn't it have given you a 1 or maybe a 0? Isn't 7/7 =1? And 2/2=1?
Let's try fact families again to see what the answer should be. 0/0 = ??
What number multiplied by 0 = 0? Well, every number would work wouldn't it, so the answer is indeterminate. You can't determine what the answer should be.
Hopefully, this explanation has helped to clear up division by zero and why is doesn't work.
2 comments:
This is kewl! Wish my teacher had read this before he explained it. I can now relate it to other division problems and remember it. Thanks.
This is absolutely the best description I have ever come across-really excellent.
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