Divide by Zero: Difference between revisions

Compare [[Awesomeness Is Volatile]], where [[Chuck Norris]] [[Chuck Norris Facts|can divide by zero]].

See also [[Logic Bomb]], which can overlap with this. Not to be confused with [[The Singularity]].

 

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* In ''[[Slayers]]'' there was a 50/50 chance that Lina Inverse's "Giga Slave" spell would do this instead of defeating the [[Big Bad]]. She only learns of that possibility ''after'' doing it, though, and lucked out.

** {{spoiler|The second time she used it, she got a different effect -- it summoned the Lord of Nightmares, who decided to just destroy the guy dicking around with the spell instead of destroying the world. And then got ''really'' merciful and decided to not kill Lina after all.}}

* In ''[[Tsubasa Chronicle]]'' {{spoiler|Syaoran broke the magical taboo of stopping a moment in time to save Sakura's life. The unraveling of the fabric of reality ensues.}}

** Later however, this actually is revealed to be part of a [[Stable Time Loop]] responsible for his very existence.

* Ted Chiang's ''[http://www.fantasticmetropolis.com/i/division/ Division By Zero]'' uses this as an analogy for the central mathematical conceit of the plot.

* In one of the dialogues from ''[[Godel Escher Bach|Gödel, Escher, Bach]]'', Achilles is granted permission by [[God]] to make one infinite-level Typeless Wish. He says, "I wish my wish would not be granted!" After this [[Logic Bomb]] goes off in a way that "cannot possibly be described, and so no attempt will be made to describe it", Achilles and the Tortoise find themselves in a totally unfamiliar environment. Achilles asks, "Did the earth come to a standstill? Did the universe cave in?" The Tortoise explains that they were [[Inside a Computer System]] and the paradoxical wish crashed it: "I'm sorry, Achilles--you blew it. You crashed the System, and you should thank our lucky stars that we're back at all. Things could have come out a lot worse."

* In Aldous Huxley's ''Point Counter Point'' (1928), a [[Upperclass Twit|dilettante marquess]] is attempting to mathematically prove the existence of God:

{{quote| "You know the formula, ''m'' over nought equals infinity, ''m'' being any positive number? Well, why not reduce the equation to a simpler form by multiplying both sides by nought? In which case you have ''m'' equals infinity times nought. That is to say that a positive number is the product of zero and infinity. Doesn't that demonstrate the creation of the universe by an infinite power out of nothing? Doesn't it?"<br />

== Video Games ==

* In ''[[Mario and Luigi Bowsers Inside Story (Video Game)|Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story]]'', Mario and Luigi have access to an area inside of Bowser that has warp pipes that lead to areas in the Mushroom Kingdom, outside of Bowser. Bowser himself can't access these warp pipes for obvious reasons. Theoretically however, if Bowser were to enter one of those warp pipes... which lead to an area inside of himself... This trope may very well be invoked.

* In ''[[Iji (Video Game)|Iji]]'', there is a secret device called the Null Driver, and when used, It causes the game to glitch out, and also destroys all enemies on screen. It disappears once you exit the game, as do the glitches.

* Dividing by Zero is what allows a [[Time Paradox]] to occur in the [[Legacy of Kain]] timeline: Because the past is essentially immutable and [[You Already Changed the Past|everything moves in a linear timeline]], the only way to subvert that timeline is to introduce two instances of the same entity from different points in history to one-another -- generally this role is fulfilled by the [[Sword of Plot Advancement|Soul Reaver blade]], either as Kain's physical sword or as Raziel's ethereal wraith blade. {{spoiler|Since the soul-eating aspect of the blade is in fact Raziel's spirit, Raziel, once he acquires the blade as a weapon, is a walking paradox, able to [[Screw Destiny]] with every action he takes - which is why everyone in the world wants him as a pawn.}}

== Web Comics ==

* In the ''[[And Shine Heaven Now (Webcomic)|And Shine Heaven Now]]'' arc crossing over with ''[[Read or Die (Anime)|Read or Die]]'', abuse of [[Time Travel]] by the heroes and villains ends up creating a literal [[Plot Hole]] which nearly destroys the Universe.

** It doesn't get to this point? [[Too Dumb to Live|Black Belt]] '''created a clone of himself''' using this as an excuse. Somehow, he got '''so''' lost that he broke space and time.

*** And do note, he got this completly lost that it broke reality, while walking down a straight hallway.

* And of course, ''[[One Over Zero|1/0]]''.

* In ''[[Real Life Comics]]'', Greg Dean parodies the possibilities of rune combinations in ''[[Diablo]] II'' [http://www.reallifecomics.com/archive/010709.html in this strip] by making a sword with a 10% chance of annihilating the space-time continuum.

* ''[[The Unspeakable Vault of Doom]]'' has another literal example of division by zero. The unfortunate mathematician is promptly [[Cthulhu Mythos|introduced to Yog Sogoth]].

* Dividing by zero apparently creates invisible paint in ''[[The Non Adventures of Wonderella]]''.

 

== Web Original ==

** [[Epileptic Trees|OF COURSE, THAT'S IT!!! ZERO IS SO BADASS BECAUSE HE DIVIDES HIS ENEMIES BY CHUCK NORRIS USING HIS SWORD!!!]]

* [http://scp-wiki.wikidot.com/scp-225 SCP-225] is an illustration of the classic "[[Yin Yang Clash|unstoppable force vs. immovable object]]" paradox. The [[SCP Foundation (Wiki)|SCP Foundation]] is concerned about the possible consequences of the two objects colliding. They believe that if the objects annihilate each other, they would release at minimum power equivalent to a ''gigatons'' strong nuclear explosion. The possible result if they ''don't'' destroy each other on impact is apparently ''even worse'' -- ''planetary evacuation'' wouldn't be enough to save the human race.

* In ''[[Fine Structure (Literature)|Fine Structure]]'' this is sometimes done intentionally to attract the attention of the Imprisoning God, which stamps down hard on such violations. However, one particular event -- {{spoiler|dropping the immortal Anne Poole into a black hole}} -- breaks physics so badly that even the Imprisoning God goes into failure mode.

* In the [[Things of Interest (Website)|Ed stories]], Ed briefly accessing the Root Layer causes a Class X-3 [[Apocalypse How]] on the Andromeda galaxy.

* Almost happened in audio format [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BqgEm8XWXu8 here].

 

== Western Animation ==

* One episode of ''[[The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy]]'' revealed that this is essentially what happens if Mandy ever smiles. The ultimate outcome? Billy, Mandy, and the [[Grim Reaper]] wind up [[Crossover Punchline|literally becoming the]] ''[[Powerpuff Girls]]''.

** The scenario was inverted in a much earlier episode, where Mandy very clearly smiled after she made everyone else on Earth vanish instantly.

*** And in the very first episode, where she smiled and winked at the camera.