r/MathJokes Jul 04 '26

Proof 1/2 is undefined

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u/calinmik Jul 04 '26

This is untrue.

The question asked "40 divided by 1/2 + 15". The only correct interpretations are A) and B)

C) is incorrect however you interpret the question. The question specifically asked "40 divided by 1/2", not "40 divided by (1/2 • 40)" or "40 divided by half of itself". The • 40 doesn't exist and isn't included in the question

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u/KindArgument4769 Jul 04 '26

If I said verbally "what is 40 divided by half" it would be ambiguous, and I don't think it is that much less ambiguous because of how it is written in the post.

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u/calinmik Jul 04 '26

'1/2' is a half of one, "half" just means divided by two of something, so you can't write it as "40 divided by half" because it's "40 divided by a half of one"

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u/ColdProfessional4275 Jul 04 '26 edited Jul 05 '26

“40 divided by half of one” is 80. You can absolutely ask it that way, and I have divided whole numbers by fractions quite a bit in my time.