Division by zero
In mathematics, the result of division by zero, such as a ÷ 0, is undefined and not allowed in arithmetic. The reason is the following: division ought to be the inverse operation of multiplication, which means that a ÷ b should be the solution x of bx = a, but for b=0 this has no solution if a≠0, and any x as solution if also a=0. In both cases a ÷ b can not be defined meaningfully.In particular, it is incorrect to say that a ÷ 0 is infinity. The argument that any number a, divided by a very small one, becomes extremely large is unconvincing: a negative number a divided by a small positive number doesn't become large, and neither does a positive number a divided by a small negative number.
Another way to see why division by zero doesn't work is to work backwards from multiplication, remembering that anything multiplied by zero is zero. So
- 2 × 0 = 0,
- 0 ÷ 0 = 2.
- 4 × 0 = 0,
- 0 ÷ 0 = 4,
It is possible to disguise a division by zero in a long algebraic argument, leading to such things as a spurious proof that 2 equals 1.
It is both possible and meaningful to find the limit as x approaches 0 of some divisions by x; see l'Hopital's rule for some examples.
Extension to complex numbers
For the complex plane, see also Pole (complex analysis).
Computers
Many computer architectures produce a runtime exception[?] when an attempt is made to divide by zero.
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