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Mathematics Throughout History

The Creation of Zero and Pi

What are some special properties of zero?

There are many special properties of zero. For instance, you cannot divide by zero (or have zero as the denominator [bottom number] of a fraction). This is because, simply put, something cannot be divided by nothing. Thus, if some equation has a unit (usually a number) divided by zero, the answer is considered to be “undefined.” But it is possible to have zero in the numerator (top number) of a fraction; as long as it does not have zero in the denominator (called a legal fraction), it will always be equal to zero. Other special properties of zero include: Zero is considered an even number; any number ending in zero is considered an even number; when zero is added to a number, the sum is the original number; and when zero is subtracted from a number, the difference is the original number.