The function "division" is just like any other function. It takes two inputs, and gives an output. The reason it's a useful function is it has some properties:

The function "division" is just like any other function. It takes two inputs, and gives an output. The reason it's a useful function is it has some properties: y=1/x is continuous except where x==0. That is, as you approach 0 from either side, it grows to either +- infinity. The developers of this language want to make this function ==0 when x is 0. You can do that, sure, but it doesn't change the fact that when you go from +0.0000001 to -0.0000001, you now have 2 non-continuous jumps instead of just one.