4 ms·

1/0 = undef (cast to 0) 1 != 0*0 I don't see the inconsistency. Abstract math vs practical application.

• pmiller2 8y ago
  You’re doing something different than real number arithmetic. Saying 1/0 = x, and then treating x like a real number is inconsistent. But just saying “we are going to augment the real numbers with an element x that is not a real number, and then define some properties of x and prove things about it” is not.
  • FlipperBucket 8y ago
    > You’re doing something different than real number arithmetic Computer languages execute on rules that are not utilizing real number arithmetic. I didn't want to mention it, but there's these things called floats... Edit: Pony took out the "normal" version of division by zero and suggest to write a wrapper to check beforehand.
    • pmiller2 8y ago
      Where did I say anything about computers? I’m referring to real numbers.
      • FlipperBucket 8y ago
        The topic is a computer language. I'm referring to utility.
        • pmiller2 8y ago
          Floating point is only useful to the extent that it approximates real arithmetic.
          • jack9 8y ago
            In pony, floating point behaves 1.0/0.0 the way you might expect.