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Professor Comes Up With a Way to Divide by Zero
54mc writes "The BBC reports that Dr. James Anderson, of the University of Reading, has finally conquered the problem of dividing by zero. His new number, which he calls "nullity" solves the 1200 year old problem that niether Newton nor Pythagoras could solve, the problem of zero to the zero power. Story features video (Real Player only) of Dr. Anderson explaining the "simple" concept."
So much for my $200 calculator.
--- Grow a pair, liberals... stop letting the Republicans bully you!
ah no, not the same thing. With databases, it means unknown.
Well, maybe it's the same thing. I didn't read the article.
The professors at 'Rithmetic State were non-plussed upon hearing the news.
Is it just me or does it sound like he thinks he's invented the NaN?
There's zero comments yet. Wonder how many comments that is per poster
I can make up numbers too...
What he did was assign the previously "undefined" integer with a defined symbol that means the same thing. Infinity in both directions.
While interesting, the concept has little use.
From the article "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.".
Now, instead of getting an error message, the computer give a 0 with a line through it, and THEN an error message.
--sig fault--
mod original post up by 0/0 points :)
-- "Genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration" - TAE --
Only Chuck Norris can divide by zero.
Yet Another NaN? ;)
--I thought I was wrong once, but I was mistaken.
Helpful little hint from the end of the video:
Yeah. It was that simple.
I'm just reminded of that proof from way-back-when that 2 = 1:
All this guy has done is provide another little fun "proof" that you can use to win bar bets. "Betcha I can divide by zero..."
The heavens do not fall for such a trifle.
Anyone feel like explaining the importance of 0/0?
It's what math professors think about when they're too old to bonk a student during those intense one-on-one tutoring sessions.
... and dividing by zero while on the nullity line lets you go directly to World 9 with only two Warp Whistles!
Seriously though...if this interpretation is incorrect.
Your interpretation is correct but for proper mathematical representation it should be reduced to its simplest form.
While simpler reductions may be possible I believe the following best conveys the essence of the equation:
"Dr. Anderson is a pompous idiot."
As I understand it; you take a famous problem (e.g. division-by-zero), give it a new name (e.g. nullity) and claim you've solved the problem.
So, I hereby claim to have solved the well-known Poincaré Conjecture by naming it "frooblewompy". There, problem solved.
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I think you mean, "You must be new here."
:)
Although your number is higher than his.
So, perhaps i should say:
You must be new here, because i think you mean, "You must be new here."
There are lives at stake here!
... but my RealPlayer divided by zero and crashed.
Claiming to be pedantic on Slashdot is asking for trouble
I will never forget when I was about 8 years old going up to the adding machine in my grandfather's home office. It was about twice the size of a toaster and made of that old typewriter metal. It looked like it weighed as much as a car and had probably cost as much new. Just to see what would happen I entered '0', '/' and '0'. Without hesitation it began producing line after line of '0', '0', '0' on the paper tape accompanied by a cacaphony of mechanical gears. It became apparent to me in a split second that it had no intention of stopping. Ever. It had come alive and was angry.
I yanked the plug from the wall socket and ran from the room in terror.
I am quite sure nudity would be a more appalling number
Also, if any plane ever falls out of the sky because its software was dividing by zero, the engineers should be promptly be drug out into the street and shot.
In any case, I'm not sure I see how nullity rectifies the problem.
"Good morning ladies and gentlemen, this is your captain speaking. We're nullity minutes into this flight, and we're cruising at nullity knots, at an altitude of nullity feet below sea level. We've got a nice tailwind blowing along an axis perpendicular to spacetime, so we hope to arrive at our destination (7i-4) minutes early."
If you wouldn't mind emailing me your name, address, and credit card number (used only for verification and other stuff) I will send you 1 (one) Nobel prize in the field of mathematics for a limited time offer not exceed 5 days. By accepting this offer you are agreeing that I, the arbitrary nullity, will thus forth be bequeathed of all known possessions you, the numbskull who happens to be still reading this. Furthermore, without further ado, we bring you something completely differential.
I thought that was %
which is totally what she said
If he can make up numbers, then I cam make up words,
this whole thing is utterly stuipfluous.
No, his original comment makes more sense. Given your attempt to bring him round to your archaic form of existence in repetetive humour, I just you must be old here.
And remember - in Soviet Russia, new becomes you!
which is totally what she said
I just solved the P=NP problem. The answer is peeequalsennpeeanswer - a special word I made up which represents a complete proof.
I get it! If I were to lose half my body in some freaky accident and someone were to give me $10, I'd actually get $20!
I don't know how math professors look in your country, but I think that "appalling" describes anything involving them and nudity quite well.
USE HOT GRITS WITH STATUE OF NATALIE PORTMAN (NAKED AND PETRIFIED)
Utter rubbish, as usual. Just like those idiotic programmers who start counting from zero.
Repeat after me: Zero is not a number. I didn't hear you, say it again.
Let's get this straight. A number is representative of a quantity.
Zero represent "nothing".
"Nothing" is not a quantity. It is, well...nothing.
Ergo, zero is not representative of a quantity, which means Zero is not a number.
Why is is so hard for people to understand that?
Anyway, math works with numbers, not programmers' fallacious ideas.
It's good that as a rule division by zero is not allowed. Adding this programmers' idea of division by zero would surely add a bug to the system. Yes, and some moron is bound to give us a patch, as this one just did. But guess what, it was wrong in the first place, and should be removed from any support whatsoever.
Have you read my journal today?
My calculus class always used to divide by zero... just for very large values of zero.
That's a perfectly cromulent word you've got there.
steampunk web design
"What professor, after making a huge discovery, proceeds to teach it to children before presenting it at a seminar of his peers?"
One who... can't tell the difference?
If you can read this, I forgot to post anonymously.
you are entirely correct. i believe the proper mod would have been 'enlightening'.
*crickets*
were deemed so useless when first conceived that they were called imaginary numbers
Those of us with an electrical engineering background prefer to call them jmaginary.
Yes, that's numberwang!
My apologies if you are receiving multiple copies of this call for papers.
We invite new and innovative submissions for an upcoming symposium to discuss the novel concept of "nullity". "Nullity" was first proposed by Dr. Anderson when he was teaching schoolchildren in 2006A.D. (the actual inventor is still debated). However from that time onwards nullity has been used to prove many phenomenon in everyday life including debt reduction, break ups and even vasectomy. The manuscript should be novel and not published elsewhere. The area of interest includes but is not limited to:
Nullity in network design
Nullity chip design
Evolutionary nullity
Educating children on nullity
Nullity based algorithms
Please submit the above papers directly to Dr. Anderson at an.ders.on@__.__ (Please install the nullity plugging to display email address). The symposium will be held from 29-35 March 300G.E. on First Foundation.