Dividing by zero

reply to post by zatara


' When r is equal to zero'
So the question is whether r can be zero but still contain mass in the real universe. r can be infinitesimally small like a single Angstrom or even less (eg a single quark) and still be non-zero while the singularity of near-zero diameter has near infinite (but still measurably finite) density.

I still ask whether 'black holes' actually exist as they're something of a mathematical speculation formed to pose a possible explanation of observations. I can imagine that sufficient accumulated matter may reach a tipping point where gravity is strong enough to collapse the matter into a gigantic nucleus with all particles in intimate contact but it would not have zero diameter.

Infinity is a creation of ours in an attempt to explain the inexplicable. When I encounter it it's usually because I tried to calculate the tangent of an angle too close to 90 degrees or some other asymptotic function close to its limits. 'Virtual' zeros and infinities are manageable unlike the real absolutes we can write on paper with simple symbols.

(my first post under the 'new' ATS look)

A discuss on division by zero

reply to post by tremex


Study classical math, and understand that one instance of 'undefined' is not the same as any other instance of it.