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Posted

http://www.bbc.co.uk/berkshire/content/articles/2006/12/06/divide_zero_feature.shtml

 

The BBC seem to think that they've found someone who's developed an amazing new theory that means you can divide by zero... but if you look at it, it's an absolute joke. Apparently it's being taught to kids... poor kids.

 

Even if the rest wasn't rubbish, the first "definition" he writes implies that any number can equal any number... so the guy has ultimately created a useless set of axioms.

 

[/mathematical ranting]

Posted
I'm confused just thinking about it.

 

To be honest, I didn't even think that this was a problem.

Well it wasn't really...

 

Some of the things the guy says are hilarious. "If your pacemaker tries to divide by zero, you're dead!"

Posted
Well it wasn't really...

 

Some of the things the guy says are hilarious. "If your pacemaker tries to divide by zero, you're dead!"

 

I thought that was funny. But then, I almost wanted to hit the guy anyway. Bluddy people complicating things!

Posted
I thought you can divide by zero using complex numbers or something?

No. With complex numbers you can square root negative numbers.

 

WTF?!?

I can divide by zero for a long time! It's (+ or -) infinite!

 

if 1/0 = infinity

1 = 0*infinity

 

now:

 

0 = 0

2*0 = 3*0

2*0*infinity = 3*0*infinity

2*1 = 3*1

2 = 3

 

Doesn't work so well...

Posted

"If your pacemaker tries to divide by zero, you're dead!"

 

I think he means that if a computer program tries to divide by 0 it can stall and so will stop working...

 

I wonder why the school let him teach that kind of thing before it was verified as actually being correct.

Posted
"If your pacemaker tries to divide by zero, you're dead!"

 

I think he means that if a computer program tries to divide by 0 it can stall and so will stop working...

 

I wonder why the school let him teach that kind of thing before it was verified as actually being correct.

But those things won't crash anyway if they divide by 0. They just say error and carry on, unless they're incorrectly programmed.

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