SOLUTION: I submitted this question the other day, but don't believe that I received a response yet. The question is: Determine those real numbers a for which the opposite of a is the same

Algebra ->  Inverses -> SOLUTION: I submitted this question the other day, but don't believe that I received a response yet. The question is: Determine those real numbers a for which the opposite of a is the same      Log On


   

Question 120768This question is from textbook Introductory Algebra
: I submitted this question the other day, but don't believe that I received a response yet. The question is: Determine those real numbers a for which the opposite of a is the same as the reciprocal of a. I understand the difference between opposite and reciprocal, but I still don't understand what the answer would be. Any help would be greatly appreciated!!! This question is from textbook Introductory Algebra

Answer by Fombitz(32388) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
The opposite of a is -a.
The reciprocal of a is 1/a.
Set the two equal to each other and solve for a.
-a=1%2Fa
-a%5E2=1
a%5E2=-1
There is no real number that once you square it gives -1.
There is no solution.