Ask HN: Why does OS X Spotlight's calculator assert N/0 = N?

[whelchel]

Perhaps a trivial question, but I think it's interesting how digital devices handle mathematical inconsistencies/absurdities.

I can't say I've seen this sort of "screw it" approach before. Anyone out there know why this is the case with Mac?

If anyone is curious, the "Calculator" app returns quite considerately, "Not a number", so they don't seem to be run by the same engine. I also tried in spotlight with 0.0 to see if it was a float/int distinction, but no dice.

Note I'm running 10.10.5 (Yosemite)

[kogir]

Doesn't do that for me: https://www.dropbox.com/s/t3igrnerpzu26gn/Screenshot%202017-...

macOS Sierra

[0942v8653]

Apple's Spotlight calculators have had worse problems: http://i.imgur.com/UMYtIDi.jpg

[andreygrehov]

I think it doesn't do anything TBH. The N was simply the last successful output as you were typing.