Uploaded January 2024 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
From the Radiolab podcast: In mathematics you’re allowed to do everything for the most part — except for this.
Karim Ani dedicated his life to math. He studied it in school, got a degree in math education, even founded Citizen Math (www.citizenmath.com) to teach it to kids in a whole new way. But this whole time, his whole life almost, he had this question nagging at him.
The question came in the form of a rule in math, NEVER divide by zero. But why not?
Cornell mathematician, and friend of the show, Steve Strogatz chimes in with the historical context, citing examples of previous provocateurs looking to break the rules of math. And he offers Karim a warning, “In math we have creative freedom, we can do anything we want, as long as it’s logical.”
Listen along as Karim’s thought exercise becomes an existential quest, taking us with him, as he delves deeper, and deeper, into Zeroworld.
EPISODE CREDITS:
Reported by Lulu Miller.
Produced by Matthew Kielty, with help from Ekedi Fausther-Keeys and Alyssa Jeong Perry.
Original music and sound design contributed by Matthew Kielty, with mixing help from Arianne Wack.
Fact-checking by Diane Kelly, and edited by Pat Walters.
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Photo illustration Jared Bartman.
Video by W. Harry Fortuna.
From the Radiolab podcast: In mathematics you’re allowed to do everything for the most part — except for this.
Karim Ani dedicated his life to math. He studied it in school, got a degree in math education, even founded Citizen Math (www.citizenmath.com) to teach it to kids in a whole new way. But this whole time, his whole life almost, he had this question nagging at him.
The question came in the form of a rule in math, NEVER divide by zero. But why not?
Cornell mathematician, and friend of the show, Steve Strogatz chimes in with the historical context, citing examples of previous provocateurs looking to break the rules of math. And he offers Karim a warning, “In math we have creative freedom, we can do anything we want, as long as it’s logical.”
Listen along as Karim’s thought exercise becomes an existential quest, taking us with him, as he delves deeper, and deeper, into Zeroworld.
EPISODE CREDITS:
Reported by Lulu Miller.
Produced by Matthew Kielty, with help from Ekedi Fausther-Keeys and Alyssa Jeong Perry.
Original music and sound design contributed by Matthew Kielty, with mixing help from Arianne Wack.
Fact-checking by Diane Kelly, and edited by Pat Walters.
🎧 Subscribe to Radiolab wherever you listen to podcasts: bit.ly/3trXDLe
🔎 Subscribe to Radiolab on YouTube: bit.ly/3I9KI53
🖋 Subscribe to Radiolab’s Newsletter: radiolab.org/newsletter
🌱 Check out Radiolab's Starter Kit Playlist: bit.ly/3sX8f4P
👍 Like this video ✏️ and leave us a comment!
Follow Radiolab:
Instagram — instagram.com/radiolab
X (Formerly Twitter) — twitter.com/Radiolab
Facebook — facebook.com/Radiolab
Our newsletter comes out every Wednesday. It includes short essays, recommendations, and details about other ways to interact with the show. Sign up here: radiolab.org/newsletter
Support Radiolab by becoming a member of The Lab today: radiolab.org/the-lab
Photo illustration Jared Bartman.
Video by W. Harry Fortuna.
