1 divided by infinity equals zero (always?)

  • #1
njh
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TL;DR Summary
1/ infinity = 0, but this seems a simplification.
I understand the mathematics that 1 divided by infinity is virtually zero and so equals zero. I look on the internet and that is the answer that I get. Is this a simplification for early mathematics learning and, if I continue, will I find a more complex answer? The reason that I ask is that I find this a simplification that does not sound right. Thank you.
 
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  • #2
You cannot divide anything by infinity since infinity isn't a number. The notation ##1/\infty =0## is a very sloppy way to write ##\displaystyle{\lim_{n \to \infty}\dfrac{1}{n}=0} ## or whatever else goes to infinity. There is no division by infinity, only the remark that ##\left|\dfrac{1}{n}-0\right|<\varepsilon ## gets arbitrarily small, but not zero.
 
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  • #3
Thank you (and incidentally, my apologies for not using mathematical notation in my question).
 
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1. Is it true that 1 divided by infinity equals zero always?

Yes, in the context of limits in calculus, the expression 1 divided by infinity is considered to be equal to zero.

2. Why does 1 divided by infinity equal zero?

When we say 1 divided by infinity, we are essentially talking about the limit of 1 as the denominator approaches infinity. Since the denominator is getting larger and larger, the value of the fraction approaches zero.

3. Can't 1 divided by infinity be considered as approaching infinity instead of zero?

While it may seem intuitive to think that dividing a number by an infinitely large quantity should result in a large number, in the context of limits and calculus, the expression 1 divided by infinity is defined as zero due to the way limits are evaluated.

4. Does 1 divided by infinity follow the same rules as regular division?

No, dividing by infinity is a concept that arises in calculus and is based on limits, which can behave differently from regular arithmetic operations. In this context, 1 divided by infinity is defined as zero, unlike traditional division rules.

5. Is it possible for 1 divided by infinity to equal a number other than zero?

In the realm of calculus and limits, the expression 1 divided by infinity is defined to be zero. While in other contexts, infinity divided by infinity may be considered an indeterminate form, in the specific case of 1 divided by infinity, the result is always zero based on the definition of limits.

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