1 divided by 0 is not infinity; rather, it is undefined because there is no answer that satisfies the rules of arithmetic.
According to the provided reference, the reason we cannot define 1/0 is as follows:
- If we could say that 1/0 equals some number (let's call it "x"), then it must be true that x * 0 = 1.
- However, any number multiplied by zero always equals zero (x * 0 = 0).
- Therefore, it's impossible for any number multiplied by zero to equal 1.
In short, division by zero leads to a contradiction within the established rules of mathematics. Thinking of 1/0 as infinity is a simplification sometimes used in calculus, but technically it's an undefined value.
