Date: Mon, 8 Mar 1999 16:29:55 -0600 (CST)
Subject: 0 / 11

Name: JACOB

Who is asking: Student
Level: Middle

Question:
What is the term applied to 0 divided by a number.

In calculating slope problem my answer was 0 divided by 11. I don't know what to do with this answer or how to interpret it.

jacob

Hi Jacob

0/11 = ? is equivalent to asking 11 times ? = 0 and so we see that the answer is 0. So 0/11 = 0. If the slope of a line is 0/11 this means that the ratio rise:run = 0:11. Since the rise is 0 the line must be horizontal and thus its slope is 0.
   Another way to interpret 0/11 is to think of dividing 0 into 11 equal parts. If you do so each of the parts must also be of size 0, thus 0/11 = 0.

Cheers
Jack and Penny

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