1950s mechanical calculator crumbles in the face of divide-by-zero conundrum — relic spins its gears uncontrollably in ‘chaotic loop’ of endless motion

Divide by zero is one of computing’s most notorious error conditions. Yet even before the digital age, divide by zero calculations could cause mechanical calculators to be thrown into chaos by the impossible, or more correctly, this ‘undefined operation.’ A striking example is provided by a video clip shared by mathematics and science enthusiast Vixhal on X, embedded below. The 1950s technological marvel spins its gears wildly and appears to be screaming “oil me, switch me off,” after being…