Multiplicative Inverse

What is Reciprocal in Maths?

For a number A, B is called reciprocal of A if and only if

B = 1/A 

OR

AB = 1

How do you find the Reciprocal of a Number?

To find the reciprocal of a number, you need to divide 1 by the given number. For example, if you want to find the reciprocal of 4, you would calculate 1/4 which can be further simplified to 0.25.

What is the Reciprocal of a Positive Rational Number?

The reciprocal of a positive rational number is simply another positive rational number obtained by inverting the original number.

Can the Reciprocal of Zero be Defined?

No, the reciprocal of zero is undefined as division by zero is not defined i.e., 1/0 is not defined.

What is the Reciprocal of a Fraction?

Reciprocal of a Fraction is the fraction obtained by interchanging the numerator and denominator of the given fraction. For example, the reciprocal of 3/4 is 4/3.

What is the Reciprocal of a Negative Number?

Reciprocal of a Negative Number is a negative number obtained by dividing 1 by the given negative number. For example, the reciprocal of -2 is -1/2.

What is the Product of a Number and its Reciprocal?

The product of a number and its reciprocal is always 1. For example, if you multiply 5 by its reciprocal (1/5), the result is 1. This property holds true for any non-zero number.

Reciprocal is the inverse of a number or a value. It is also known as the multiplicative inverse. In other words, the reciprocal of a number is defined as 1 divided by that number. The word reciprocal comes from the Latin word reciprocus, which means “returning”. Every number has a reciprocal, except for 0 as 1/0 is undefined.

To find the reciprocal of a number, you can:

• Divide 1 by the number
• Raise the number to the power of -1
• Write the original number as a fraction and “flip” it

For example, the reciprocal of 9 is 1/9.

Let’s learn how to find the reciprocal of whole numbers, fractions, negative numbers, etc. with examples.