Name: Allyson Jade J.

Columna MTM 3113-1

Mijany B. Ordame Prof. Nor-Anne Marie B. Frias
(Group 6)
BSEd-Math 3-1

Topic: Is Zero Divided by Zero Equals Zero, One or Indeterminate?

RESULT AND DISCUSSION

Based on the related studies the researchers gathered regarding the division of zero by
zero, three possible answers were being investigated. First, zero divided by zero equals zero.
Second, zero divided by zero is one and third, zero divided by zero is indeterminate.

1. Is Zero Divided by Zero Equals Zero?

Brahmagupta’s famous work which is the Brahmasphutasiddhanta entails an operation

involving zero. It says that,

“Positive or negative, divided by zero, is a fraction with zero for the denominator. Zero
divided by negative or positive is either zero or is expressed by a fraction with zero
as a numerator and the finite quantity as denominator. Zero divided by zero is zero.”
(Ufuoma, 2017)
Table 1.1
Positive or negative number Zero divided by zero Zero divided by a negative or
when divided by zero positive number
1 0
0 0 1
=0
0
−1 0
0 −1
Considered as fraction Zero or expressed as a fraction

Based on this illustration, Brahmagupta treated zero as a number that’s why he came up
with the idea of having zero as the denominator, and zero divided by zero is zero. But focusing
on the division of zero by zero is zero and the division of a positive or negative number by zero
seems questionable and not accepted by other mathematicians.
Looking back to the rules of division, it is indicated there that it must satisfy the rule in
multiplication. For instance, the ratio r of two numbers a and b must be connected in a when r is
multiplied by b.
Table 1.2
a
=r
b
a=r ∙b
Example, let a = 4, b = 2 and r = 2
4
=2
2
4=2∙ 2

In this representation, four divided by two is equal to two because it satisfies the rule in
multiplication which can be seen above that two multiplied by two is four. It can be applied in
writing a problem e.g. If you have four pencils, and had to distribute this equally among 2
friends, how many pencils will you give to each friend? The answer is you will give two pencils
each. But in the case of division of zero by zero is zero, this is a different thing. Yes, it satisfies
the rules in multiplication but the result of it could be anything (Alfeld P., 1997) because any
number, when multiplied by zero, is zero.
Table1.3
0
=0
0
0 ∙ 0=0
But
for any real number a,
a ∙ 0=0

2. Is Zero Divided by Zero Equals One?

 Some say that zero divided by zero equals one because any number when being divided by
itself is one but this concept is not true because based on the rule, zero is exempted. ("Lesson -
Divide whole numbers," n.d.).

However, other ideas from Mathematicians like Kolmogorov, De Moivre, and Einstein made
it possible to let zero divided by zero equals one.

Table 2.1

Axiom I (Lex Identitatis. Principium Identitatis. Identity Law)

+1 ≡+ ¿1

Identity law is an important concept to prove that zero divided by zero is one.
According to Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz (1646-1716) on the researcher’s related studies, it is
everything is that what it is (Barukčić, I., 2018) meaning, each thing that exists is made up of its
own particular characteristics that are a part of what it is (The Three Laws of Logic). For
example, by multiplying the axiom above by A we get A=A or can be called “A est A”
(Barukčić, I., 2018).

Table 2.2

Theorem (Number Theory and Independence I)

Allow +1 to be the sign of the number 1 at a certain Bernoulli trial t and allow +0 to be the sign of
the number +0 at a specific Bernoulli trial t. (Barukčić, I., 2018)

+0
=+1
+0
Direct Proof.
Given axiom I
+1 ≡+ ¿1
In this condition, there is at least one algebraic operation which satisfies the identity of something
with itself, of a number +1. We get,
+1 × ( 1 )=+1
 Given the table above, Bernoulli trial was used to show.

The first test,

The first trial or run of an experiment, in particular, provides evidence that the previous
statement is true for the first time.

+1 t=+1
+1 ×( )=+1
+1 t=+1

The value we obtained on the first trial, t = +1, could have been random.

At the first Bernoulli trial t, we obtained the value +1. So far, it is

The second trial,

In the next experiment, we execute a second (real-word or thinking) experiment and

acquire the result +4, it is

1×(4t=2/4t=2)=1

In other words, the theory holds true at the Bernoulli trial t = +1.

The n-th trial,

Finally, we decide to expand the number of experiments. To collect proof, we conduct a large
number of (real-word or thought) experiments and obtain new random numbers each time, such
as

1×(6t=3/6t=3)=11×(6t=3/6t=3)=1 , ⋯⋯ , 1×(Xt=n/Xt=n)=11×(Xt=n/Xt=n)=1 .

We have clearly demonstrated that the equation above is true even after t=n iterations of an
experiment in which a random value is acquired each time.
 We proved that the theorem is true for any given number by a simple combination of proven
facts (axiom I) and without making any further assumptions. To demonstrate that the preceding
theorem is generalizable, we do one more (real-word or thought) experiment.

The n + 1 operation

The value of the outcome of an experiment obtained at the previous experiment, or at the
experiment t= n + 1, is equal to 0. To put it another way, it is

+0 t=n+ 1
+1 ×( )=+1
+0 t=n+ 1

A division of 0 by 0 has no effect on the validity of axiom I in this circumstance. The

number +1 must remain the number +1.

+0
( )=+1
+0
If axiom I is universally valid and the foundation of mathematics without exception, then
the same is true even if 0 is divided by 0.

Quod Erat Demonstrandum

Assuming that Axiom I is correct in general, we must accept that 0/0 = 1. Despite a
number of statements made about the topic of zero divided by zero in number theory, 0/0 = 1.

Table 2.3

Theorem (Number Theory and Independence II)

Let +1 represent the number one at a given Bernoulli trial t. Let + represent positive infinity at a
particular Bernoulli trial t. Let +0 represent the value +0 for a specific Bernoulli trial t.
(Barukčić, I., 2018)
 +∞×0=+1

Direct Proof.

Given axiom I

(principium identitatis, lex identitatis, the identity law) as universally valid, it is

+1 ≡+ ¿1

If the number +1 remains the number +1, regardless of its relationship to any other number,
there is at least one operation that ensures such identity.

+1 × ( 1 )=+1

The base case,

In fact, the preceding assertion holds true for the first natural number +1 during the first
Bernoulli trial t.

+1 t=+1
+1 ×( )=+1
+1 t=+1

The inductive step,

Again, a large number of (real-word or thought) experiments are carried out, with the

following results: 1 × ( 1010 22 )=1, 1× ( 1000 3

1000 3 ) =11 × (
10003
10003 ) n
, ⋯ ⋯ , 1× ( X t= =n) =1. In other
Xt
words, the following equation holds true even after t=n repeats of an experiment with a different
number each time. If axiom I is generally valid in this situation, then the same axiom I is also
valid for the link between infinity and the number +1.

+∞ +∞ +1 +1
+1 ×( )=+1×( × )=+1 ×(+ ∞ × )=+1
+∞ +1 + ∞ +∞
Changing the equation, we get

+1
+ ∞×( )=+1
+∞
In general, unless otherwise shown, it is

+ ∞×0=+1
 Source: ("Brahmagupta: Mathematician and astronomer," 2020)
Brahmagupta then tried to extend arithmetic to include division by zero
“Positive or negative numbers when divided by zero is a fraction, the zero as denominator.
Zero divided by negative or positive numbers is either zero or is expressed as a fraction with zero
as the numerator and the finite quantity as the denominator.
Zero divided by zero is zero.”

Ufuoma, O. (2017). On the Operation of Division by Zero in Bhaskara’s Framework: Survey,

Criticisms, Modifications and Justifications. Asian Research Journal of Mathematics,

6(2), 1–20. https://doi.org/10.9734/arjom/2017/36240

https://us.edugain.com/articles/10/The-Zero-Story-Division-by-zero
"The Three Laws of Logic." Study.com, 16 September 2019, study.com/academy/lesson/the-
three-laws-of-logic.html;’