Why can you multiply by zero but not divide?

Question

Go easy on me.

In: Mathematics

Answer 1

Let’s start with 2×6=12. Then 12/6=2, and 12/2=6. This is always true.

Let’s try with another number. 12/0. That means we have to find the answer for x×0=12. Which has no answer: there is no number which gives you 12 when multiplied by zero.

How about zero then? Surely we could at least divide zero by zero: 0/0. But then

x×0=0. Since every number multiplied by zero gives you zero, any number could be the answer.