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Why can't you divide by zero?

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In the world of math, many strange results are possible when we change the rules. But there’s one rule that most of us have been warned not to break: don’t divide by zero. How can the simple combination of an everyday number and a basic operation cause such problems?

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Meet The Creators

  • Director Nick Hilditch
  • Animator Nick Hilditch
  • Associate Producer Elizabeth Cox, Bethany Cutmore-Scott
  • Content Producer Gerta Xhelo
  • Editorial Producer Alex Rosenthal
  • Fact-Checker Brian Gutierrez
Additional Resources for you to Explore
The Khan Academy also has an awesome educational lesson on this topic: Why dividing by zero is undefinedMathforum.org also answers the same question!

What are some other problems associated with zeros? Learn more by watching this video from Numberphile: Problems with Zero.

Numbers can be fascinating! Look at this article: The Secret Magic of Dividing by Zero!

Love mathematics? TED-Ed has a number of amazing lessons that involve all types of math! Click here and find your next lesson!
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Create and share a new lesson based on this one.

About TED-Ed Animations

TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »

Meet The Creators

  • Director Nick Hilditch
  • Animator Nick Hilditch
  • Associate Producer Elizabeth Cox, Bethany Cutmore-Scott
  • Content Producer Gerta Xhelo
  • Editorial Producer Alex Rosenthal
  • Fact-Checker Brian Gutierrez

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