A term describing a mathematical expression or operation that has no meaningful value or cannot be determined within the given mathematical system. Common examples include division by zero and 0/0.
From the prefix 'un-' meaning 'not' and Latin 'definire' meaning 'to set bounds' or 'to determine'. The mathematical usage became prominent in the 19th century as mathematicians rigorously defined the foundations of calculus and analysis.
Undefined is mathematics' way of saying 'we've reached the edge of the mathematical universe!' When you encounter 1/0, you're not just getting a wrong answer - you're discovering a boundary where normal arithmetic breaks down, leading to fascinating concepts like limits, infinity, and the birth of calculus.
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