Dictionary Definition
The Oxford English Dictionary defines a reciprocal as "based on an inverse relationship."Real Examples of Reciprocals
The reciprocal can't be found for numbers, letters and more complicated quantities, like terms and expressions.| Type of Quantity | Quantity | Reciprocal |
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Reciprocals of Fractions
To find the reciprocal of a fraction, 1 is divided by the fraction. Dividing 1 by a fraction turns the fraction upside down.
how to find the reciprocal of a fraction
Note
Exponent Notation For a Reciprocals
to show the reciprocal of a quantity, place −1 to the top-right of the quantity. This is an exponent of −1.
exponents of −1
Multiplying a Quantity With Its Reciprocal Equals 1
Multiplying a quantity with its reciprocal equals 1.
Beware
Be Careful With Notation
Sometimes brackets are needed to indicate which part of a term is a reciprocal. For example,
is different from
This page was written by Stephen Clarke.
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