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Tue 11 Oct, 2005 10:44 am
for any whole number n that is not 0, n/n=1 and 0/n = 0.
for any whole number n , n/1=n.
could u please explian to me why this is?
thanks!!!
x/0 is undefined, including 0/0.
you can derive those from these properties:
n + 0 = n
n * 1 = n
a * (b + c) = (a * b) + (a * c)
since a * b = c implies a = c / b for non-zero b,
n * 1 = n implies n = n / 1 and
1 * n = n implies 1 = n / n for non-zero n
to show 0 / n = 0, you first need to show that
0 * n = 0
n * 1 = n implies 0 * 1 = 0
also, for any whole number a,
0 * (a + 1) = (0 * a) + (0 * 1) = (0 * a) + 0 = 0 * a
so if 0 * a = 0 then 0 * (a + 1) = 0
therefore, by mathematical induction, for any whole number n,
0 * n = 0
therefore, 0 * n = 0 implies 0 = 0 / n for non-zero n