Posted on 12/08/2006 12:20:06 PM PST by LibWhacker
Schoolchildren from Caversham have become the first to learn a brand new theory that dividing by zero is possible using a new number - 'nullity'. But the suggestion has left many mathematicians cold.
Dr James Anderson, from the University of Reading's computer science department, says his new theorem solves an extremely important problem - the problem of nothing.
"Imagine you're landing on an aeroplane and the automatic pilot's working," he suggests. "If it divides by zero and the computer stops working - you're in big trouble. If your heart pacemaker divides by zero, you're dead."
Computers simply cannot divide by zero. Try it on your calculator and you'll get an error message.
But Dr Anderson has come up with a theory that proposes a new number - 'nullity' - which sits outside the conventional number line (stretching from negative infinity, through zero, to positive infinity).
'Quite cool'
The theory of nullity is set to make all kinds of sums possible that, previously, scientists and computers couldn't work around.
"We've just solved a problem that hasn't been solved for twelve hundred years - and it's that easy," proclaims Dr Anderson having demonstrated his solution on a whiteboard at Highdown School, in Emmer Green.
"It was confusing at first, but I think I've got it. Just about," said one pupil.
"We're the first schoolkids to be able to do it - that's quite cool," added another.
Despite being a problem tackled by the famous mathematicians Newton and Pythagoras without success, it seems the Year 10 children at Highdown now know their nullity.
That's another one of those indeterminate forms. What's the log of 0? What does base zero mean? Somewhere you get a 0*inf NaN. 0! is simply defined as 1.
Agreed ... but it's not zero, which is the point.
I know what it does, but it's NaN. The particular problem must be considered and approached that way -maybe. Consideration must be given. There's no general way to handle it. It's in a class of operations called interterminate forms where a value can not be assigned in general.
Division is defined in terms of multiplication.
x * 0 = 0
0/0 = Nan ect... A real problem can be looked at and an approx used.
0 is a kinetic "infinitesimality". (I know it's not a valid word but it depicts a domain) To multiply any static number by 0 "tears" that static number to kinetic infinitesimality, 0. However, I believe if you multiply kinetic infinitesimality (0) with the kinetic set of all values possible, (infinite fractioning and expansing wholes) the result is 1. Assuming eternal time is converted to a single static set value. But since time is infinite kinetic, the result is an unlimited amount of static values. Kinda like how the Universe was created if you apply this math to space. Omnipresence, omniscience, omnipotence put Itself "on the cross" (enter non-existance, the zero) to create this now Universe. That's the meaning of CHRISTmas to me. This Messenger from 2000 years ago.
....and backwards.
If a = 0 there's no inverse. Exponentiation is defined as the inverse of the natural log.
ax = exp(x/ln(a))
What's the ln of 0?
This is just another manifestation of the secular humanist belief that reality is whatever you decide it is.
(I couldn't log in this afternoon from work to comment on this.)
I don't know what you've done or why the entire world should be grateful or why you have such a high opinion of yourself, but you should learn to speak English properly.
TS
8-)
ROFLOL!
Mum's the word.
limgpa->0ENGR=B.A.
What a great tagline!
LOLOL! Thanks for the ping!
LOL! I don't think I've ever been a tagline before. :)
Good point.
and I thought you were a language wizzzz....Jeeze you just made my old head hurt.
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