Question 254170: What is the reciprocal of the number 2?
I think it's 2/1 Is that right? Thank you for your help. Found 2 solutions by dabanfield, Edwin McCravy:Answer by dabanfield(803) (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website! No. Sorry.
The reciprocal of a number is the number you multiply it by to get 1.
In this case we need 2 x ? = 1
The answer then is 1/2 since 2 x 1/2 = 1
In general, since for any number k we always have k x 1/k = 1, the reciprocal of k will be 1/k.
No, and are EXACTLY the SAME THING!
"Reciprocal" is close to the word "reciprocate".
Think of the word "reciprocate" which means
"to make a (mutual) exchange".
So you exchange the numerator and the denominator.
Or you can think of a "reciprocating engine". It
"turns over".
So you start with the original number. If it is
not already a fraction, make it a fraction by
putting 1 under it, as in the case of writing 2
as . Then you "reciprocate" the 2 and
the 1 and get . That is you "turn over",
or "turn it upside-down" and get
Edwin
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