Question 288130: Which of the following division problems is impossible?
A. 15/1
B. 15/0
C. 0/15
D. 15/45
Answer by amnd(23) (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website! A. 15/1 = 15, so this is valid
C. 0/15 = 0 , 0/15 is the same as 0 x 1/15, and zero multiplied by anything stays as zero
D. 15/45 = 1/3, also valid, as both of the numbers are rational
The only one impossible to do would be B. 15/0, as anything divided by zero is undefined.
Look at division as the inverse of multiplication. Say that A/B = C, this would mean B x C = A. Let's pretend A is 15 and B is zero, while C is a constant.
15/0 = C would mean that C x 0 = 15. Zero multiplied by anything is meant to stay as zero, so it would be impossible to find a number to multiply it with that would lead to 15.
|
|
|