4 ms·
Yes, that's correct. The fact that 1/0 shouldn't be defined as infinity isn't an argument that it should be defined as 0.
by hexane360 8y ago
Yes, that's correct. The fact that 1/0 shouldn't be defined as infinity isn't an argument that it should be defined as 0.
- jacobolus 8y agoThere are many contexts where defining either 1/0 = -1/0 = ∞ or 1/0 = +∞ and –1/0 = –∞ is better than the alternatives, especially when working in an approximate number system like floating point. In geometric modeling kinds of applications, I would say that these definitions are typically desirable, with 1/0 = undefined only better in unusual cases. As a simple example, it is typically much more useful for the “tangent” of a right angle to be defined as ∞ than left undefined. But anyhow, there are no “facts” involved here. Only different choices of mathematical models, which can be more or less convenient depending on context / application.
- gmfawcett 8y agoYes, exactly, I have no idea why you're being downvoted.