/ (Function)

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Syntax:

— Function: / number → reciprocal

— Function: / numerator &rest denominators+ → quotient

Arguments and Values:

number, denominator—a non-zero number.

numerator, quotient, reciprocal—a number.

Description:

The function / performs division or reciprocation.

If no denominators are supplied, the function / returns the reciprocal of number.

If at least one denominator is supplied, the function / divides the numerator by all of the denominators and returns the resulting quotient.

If each argument is either an integer or a ratio, and the result is not an integer, then it is a ratio.

The function / performs necessary type conversions.

If any argument is a float then the rules of floating-point contagion apply; see Section 12.1.4 (Floating-point Computations).

Examples:

 (/ 12 4) → 3
 (/ 13 4) → 13/4
 (/ -8) → -1/8
 (/ 3 4 5) → 3/20
 (/ 0.5) → 2.0
 (/ 20 5) → 4
 (/ 5 20) → 1/4
 (/ 60 -2 3 5.0) → -2.0
 (/ 2 #c(2 2)) → #C(1/2 -1/2)

Exceptional Situations:

The consequences are unspecified if any argument other than the first is zero. If there is only one argument, the consequences are unspecified if it is zero.

Might signal type-error if some argument is not a number. Might signal division-by-zero if division by zero is attempted. Might signal arithmetic-error.