An elegant and well written article, Ricky.

I make up my own rules, but I do try to base them on something. So here are the basics:

0 + 1 + 2 = 3

1 + 2 = 3

1 x 2 x 3 = 6

2 x 3 = 6

You can see that, when adding, 0 is performing the same way as when multiplying by 1. They both do not matter for the result. They are both moot. They can be around, but they don't change the outcome.

The same cannot be said in reverse because adding 1 changes the outcome and when multiplying by zero this brings us zero. As such, 1 is just a player, but zero is the dictator.

Subtracting by 1 means it is still just a player. Yet dividing by zero can be seen as the opposite of the dictator. There is no empowerment there.

Therefore, when dividing, 0 plays the same role as when dividing by 1. It does not change the outcome. This is important information, however, because minor aspects are indeed at play.

When there are five apples and they are divided by 1, meaning handed out to one person, then that one person gets five apples.

When there are five apples and they are divided by zero, that means they are not handed out. No one else is getting them. The owner is not into sharing, but the apples are still the apples.

When there are five apples and they are multiplied by zero, then a thief came buy and stole them. They are officially nowhere to be found. The owner does not have them anymore.

When there are no apples, then it does not matter if we divide them or multiply them because there is no them there. 5 times 0 is distinct from 0 times 5 because there is always a relationship, unless we are dealing with dry (or fascinating) mathematics that is not linked to reality.