on a mechanical calculator

That's why I always use one of these:

Martin Q. Blank said:

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on a mechanical calculator

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The website never loads?

Can someone please explain to me why division by zero does not result in infinity?

Your assertion is that x/0=Infinity

If this were true then infinity*0 would also equal x (and every other number) which is clearly not true

No number, including infinity is able to solve for x in that original equation so it is undefined

JJxvi said:

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Your assertion is that x/0=Infinity

If this were true then infinity*0 would also equal x (and every other number) which is clearly not true

No number, including infinity is able to solve for x in that original equation so it is undefined

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Ok.

I was relying too much on my calculus training and thinking in terms of

Lim x/n
n->0

I remember a finance class back in college that had a bonus question on the cumulative final exam, it was a number divided by 0 and the prof wanted an answer - I answered "zero" and did not get credit for the answer (he said the correct answer is "undefined") and not getting that 1 extra point on the final cost me an a in the class -

dislike that prof still today for that

JJxvi said:

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Your assertion is that x/0=Infinity

If this were true then infinity*0 would also equal x (and every other number) which is clearly not true

No number, including infinity is able to solve for x in that original equation so it is undefined

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You could solve that problem by agreeing that 1/0 = infinity.
Then x/0 = (x * 1)/0 = x * (1/0) = infinity*x. You'd have to break out the constant or variable, but it would work. Infinity * 0 would always equal 1. x * infinity * 0 = x*1 = x

Not really any less plausible than Sqrt(-1) = i.

JJxvi said:

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Your assertion is that x/0=Infinity

If this were true then infinity*0 would also equal x (and every other number) which is clearly not true

No number, including infinity is able to solve for x in that original equation so it is undefined

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Also ...

If 8/0 = Infinity

Then,

2/0 would have to equal a 2 lying on its back.