Why isn't the problem of diving by 0 addressed in a similar way?
2007-11-06 09:24:26 · 6 answers · asked by I'm an Atheist 3 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Mathematics
The idea of 'i' isn't just to get around the problem of square rooting a negative number. It sets up a system for two-dimensional vectors. You have a 'real' axis and an 'imaginary' axis (or you could say you have an 'x-axis' and a 'y-axis'). A vector defined by the complex number of (2 + 2i) would be at a 45 degree angle to the x-axis (and to the y-axis for that matter). A vector defined by (2i) would lie on the y-axis.
This also comes in handy for more abstract vectors, such as electrical current and potential, where your phase angle is actually a time shift rather than a shift in direction.
There aren't any practical uses for dividing by 0, so it's just undefined.
2007-11-06 09:36:04 · answer #1 · answered by Bob G 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
dividing by 0 is UNDEFINED.
square root of a negative 1 is defined as i. This comes in real handy, as i^2 = -1, i^3 = -i, and i^4 = 1.
2007-11-06 09:27:27 · answer #2 · answered by Marley K 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's possible to build a theory of imaginary numbers which does not contradict any results about real numbers.
It is impossible to build such a theory about your proposed new kind of imaginary number, namely the reciprocal of 0. Any attempt to do so will result in a contradiction.
For example, suppose you name your new number "u", for "undefined", analagously to how "i" is named for "imaginary."
1/0 = u
multiply both sides by 0
1=0
hmmmmmm.....if 1 = 0, any number equals 0 (just multiply both sides by your favorite number.
so the whole system falls apart under its own contradictions.
2007-11-06 10:28:41 · answer #3 · answered by Michael M 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Anything divided by 0 is useless. However i is an extremely useful number like when used in this formula, as seen on the Simpsons.
e^(pi*i) = -1
2007-11-06 09:32:44 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
What answer do you use? You cannot just tag on an "i" and get an answer to that one.
If you divide any number by zero then you will get an infinate number. You keep adding up zeros but they will never add up to what the number you are dividing into. You will never be able to get an answer. Just assigning a letter to the answer does not solve anything.
2007-11-06 09:29:05 · answer #5 · answered by A.Mercer 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
because dividing by 0 is an undefined number.
2007-11-06 09:27:37 · answer #6 · answered by Ms. Exxclusive 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋