My math teacher said that if try to divide a number by 0, your paper will burst into flames!
2007-05-17 09:32:34 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Mathematics
Yeah thats a true fact right ther.
no joke. Its scery. it happend to my friend suzy.
You should try it!! its funny..to other people. not you!
it might hurt you. maybe. a little.
2007-05-17 09:36:23 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, it's like this.
Let us say that you are working a problem of this type:
Let a = b = 1
Then
a = b
multiply both sides by a
a^2 = ab
subtract b^2 from both sides
a^2 - b^2 = ab - b^2
factor on both sides:
(a+b)(a-b) = b(a-b)
Divide both sides by (a-b), leaving:
a+b = b
2 = 1
At this point, you will realise that something is wrong. You will frantically scribble trying to find if you've just made an important discovery. You pencil will go too fast and the paper will catch on fire from the friction. Your brain will heat up. You may need medical attention.
Now, I am a professional and, because I expected this, I shielded my eyes when I divided by (a-b), because (a-b) is zero (we had set a = b at the start).
By dividing by zero, we ended up with nonsense.
So, if you divide by zero, don't do it in public.
And try not to get addicted to it.
For me, it is too late...
2007-05-17 16:44:05 · answer #2 · answered by Raymond 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Not literally, that is, the paper will not actually burst into flames! Guess that is his/her own way of telling you that it is not done in Mathematics. Whenever the need to divide by zero arises, the ratio or fraction or equation is said to be undefined.
2007-05-17 16:42:09 · answer #3 · answered by Bamba 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Haha, too scared to try it?
Division by zero is mathematically impossible. It genertes an indefinite number, namely infinity. Think about dividing a number by another number....
1/ 10 = 0.1
Now decrease the denominator greatly, letting the number approach zero...
1/1 = 1
1/ .0001 = 10000
1/.00000001 = 100000000
the smaller the number you divide something by, the greater the result. So theoretically 1 / 0 just approaches infinity
2007-05-17 16:38:22 · answer #4 · answered by mark r 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, that's is definitely not true, but do get your teacher back tell him/her that your paper really did burst into flames.
2007-05-17 16:39:42 · answer #5 · answered by Miguel 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes, that is exactly right. don't even think about dividing by zero, because your brain will burst into flames.
2007-05-17 16:35:11 · answer #6 · answered by Jeff T 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, but the flames will exist in an alternate universe, so that you won't be able to see or feel them.
2007-05-17 16:36:18 · answer #7 · answered by walt_nicholes 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
very funny. Or not. no it doesn't, dividing by 0 just yields an undefined answer.
2007-05-17 16:35:47 · answer #8 · answered by jimbothe_smartguy 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yeah, I know, she's teasing. My science teacher once
told us that the smallest thing you should put
in your ear was your elbow------with your
coat wrapped around it.
2007-05-17 16:39:25 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
she is so right! my teacher always say this!! dont even think about 0!
2007-05-17 16:35:56 · answer #10 · answered by What 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋