How to divide by zero (100% real)

[AncientAstronaut]

An explanation of the division of any number by zero by 17 year old math genius, Vincent McConnell.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=774OrQ8cx30

[M83]

I'm no mathematician, but I cannot follow where his work is going at all, and it doesn't tend to make very much sense. It seems like he even had some issues following his own math as well. Maybe the more experienced math people on here can chime in on the matter.

[Kimberly]

His first step is wrong. When he corrects himself, it is accurate, but also meaningless; if a is the result of a division by zero, then a is undefined. This means a*5 or a^2 or a - 10^99 are also undefined.

His third step is also wrong. -a * 0 does not equal 4 - a. Let's pull this same trick with real numbers: 5 * 3 = 10, so therefore -5 * 3 = 10 - 5, so therefore -15 = 5, right?

His fifth step is also wrong. If you have the equation 0 = 4 - a, and you subtract 4 from both sides, you get -4 = -a.

Things that are real don't usually need to assert that they're "100% real".

Edited August 5, 2013 by Kimberly

[Pursuedtank]

I expected the universe to break down when he said what the answer was, massive explosions, the works.

But in all seriousness, I'm pretty sure he is wrong.

[Albert VDS]

He doesn't explain where he got the negative number and the solution is flawed too.

Unless 0 = -1

4/-1 = -1

But we all know -1 != 0

[shand]

problems with zero

[Albert VDS]

This one is pretty good too.

[Yourself]

Division by zero in the real numbers is undefined, end of story. It's not because no one's been clever enough to come up with a way to do it, it's because we've defined division such that it's not possible, period. Want to see division by zero? Use the real projective line. That permits division by 0 (but not 0/0).

As for the video:

This guy is not a math genius, he hasn't the faintest idea what he's doing. I'm surprised he made it past middle school algebra. From what I can tell his greatest talent is being able to write upside-down.

[Kimberly]

This guy is not a math genius, he hasn't the faintest idea what he's doing. I'm surprised he made it past middle school algebra. From what I can tell his greatest talent is being able to write upside-down.

His talent for writing upside-down loses its shine when you realize it would've been simpler for him to write normally and then flip the video, however, or perhaps to place the camera differently.

[Yourself]

His talent for writing upside-down loses its shine when you realize it would've been simpler for him to write normally and then flip the video, however, or perhaps to place the camera differently.

I think that just reinforces my statement that it is his greatest talent.

[NovaSilisko]

17 year old math genius, Vincent McConnell.

[Xeldrak]

mmh....it pains me to watch this video....no, really...physical pains.......

As it was said before this guy has not the slightes idea what he is doing...