The Logical Problem
We can't divide by zero because no number, when multiplied by zero, would give a non-zero result. Dividing by zero breaks the fundamental rules of arithmetic, as multiplying any number by zero always equals zero, leaving no defined answer for the division operation. Allowing division by zero destroys the entire logical foundation of mathematics.
Infinity Is Not a Number
You might think, “Okay, but can’t we just say x=∞x = \inftyx=∞?”
Nope. Infinity isn’t a normal number you can use like 5 or -2. It’s a concept, not a concrete value. When you divide by smaller and smaller numbers (like 1, 0.1, 0.01, etc.), the result grows larger and larger. But at exactly zero, things blow up in a way we can’t properly define.
What About Black Holes?
Interestingly, physics is divided by zero when it comes to black holes. At the center of a black hole, equations suggest that matter gets crushed into infinite density—a singularity where space and time stop making sense. This is why physicists believe something beyond our current math (like quantum gravity) is needed to truly understand what happens inside black holes.
Dividing by zero is like trying to divide cookies among zero people—it’s not just tricky; it’s fundamentally meaningless. Try it on your calculator and you'll see the word, "UNDEFINED".