We Don't Desire The Globe To Explode...

My students are listening to me, fifty-fifty when it sometimes seems similar they aren't.

For example, I brand a genuinely big bargain inward my classroom nigh the fact that nosotros cannot carve upward past times zero.  We speak nigh how if I had 10 pieces of candy, at that spot is no agency that I tin post away carve upward them betwixt 0 people.  It's simply non possible.  I justice I tend toward the dramatic side.  "Guys, if nosotros carve upward past times zero, the earth volition explode!"  Now, nosotros don't desire the earth to explode, in addition to thus nosotros volition never carve upward past times zero, right?

At this point, 1 educatee commonly raises their mitt to enquire if the earth volition *really* explode.  This is commonly the signal inward the conversation where I enquire them to type 10/0 inward their calculators.  Half the shape is commonly convinced that 10/0 is genuinely 0.  They type it in, press enter, in addition to stare at a lovely fault message.

Wait!  My information processor says error.  Mine, too!  Guys, think what I told you?  If nosotros carve upward past times zero, the earth volition explode.  Our calculators are smart.  They know this.  They don't desire the earth to explode, in addition to thus they plough over us an fault message instead of performing the calculation that nosotros asked them to.

I remind them of what Slope Dude says when he skis off the cliff: UNDEFIIIIIIIINNNNNNED!  The cliff has ascension but no run.  Therefore, the live is zero.  He tries to carve upward past times zero, in addition to he dies inward the process.

After 1 time again acting out Slope Dude's demise, a educatee raises their mitt in addition to kindly asks me to sentinel my language.  "Ms. Hagan, is that linguistic communication genuinely necessary?"  Oh, wait.  I justice "undefined" is the worst curse discussion always inward math in addition to inward algebra.

Of course, I yet convey tons of students who rewrite anything divided past times nil equally zero.  But, or in addition to thus students create listen.  I was reminded of this fact when grading papers recently.  

"Don't desire earth to explode."  - Undefined Slope

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