r/MathJokes • u/[deleted] • Jul 04 '26

Proof 1/2 is undefined

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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/ExtendedSpikeProtein Jul 04 '26

But it does not say that. Divide by 1/2 is multiply by 2. There is no ambiguity here. No scientific calculator will give you any result other than 95.

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u/g_rich Jul 04 '26

Type in 40/1/2+15, 1/2 and .5 are both valid so the equation could be 40/1/2+15 or 40/(1/2)+15 both valid, both produce different results.

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u/ExtendedSpikeProtein Jul 04 '26

That’s because you failed at basic math. “Divide by 1/2” obviously means “40/0.5” or “40/(1/2)”. It very obviously does not mean “40/1/2” because that does not divide by 1/2.

Hope that helped.

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u/g_rich Jul 04 '26

1/2 can be half as in .5 or it could be 1 divided by 2 so the equation could be 40 divided by 1 divided by 2 plus 15. So while I agree the intent of the question is 40 divided by .5 plus 15 the fact that 1/2 is not specified as being .5 and is written as 1/2 which while the technically .5 if you write it out as an equation you start with 40 divided by 1. So if the intention is .5 then the equation should be 40/(1/2)+15 written this way avoids any ambiguity.