Why can't you divide by zero?
- 8,486,946 Views
- 25,765 Questions Answered
- TEDEd Animation
Let’s Begin…
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?
Create and share a new lesson based on this one.
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 undefined! Mathforum.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!
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!
TED-Ed
Lesson Creator
New York, NY
Create and share a new lesson based on this one.
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
More from Math In Real Life
33,757,038 views
Mathematics
The paradox at the heart of mathematics: Gödel's Incompleteness Theorem
lesson duration 05:20
3,076,763 views
4,461,858 views
2,146,583 views