multiplicative inverse
1
7.4
- noun
- /ˌmʌltɪˈplɪkətɪv ˈɪnvɜrs/
- Specialized
:
inverso multiplicativo
- To find the multiplicative inverse of a fraction, you simply swap the numerator and the denominator.
Examples
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In mathematics, the multiplicative inverse of a number is crucial for solving equations.
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So suppose I want to find the multiplicative inverse of six.
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But suppose that we have a multiplicative inverse modulo P.
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Arithmetically (the extended complex numbers are not a field), but geometrically and algebraically, it stands in as a multiplicative inverse of 0.
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Similarly, in going from the nonnegative integers to all integers or the rationals, well-ordering/induction is lost in return for additive/multiplicative inverses.
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The multiplicative inverse of 4 is 0.25, because 4 multiplied by 0.25 equals 1.
Synonyms
1
7.5
A number that when multiplied with another number makes one
Surface Forms
Morphology
The term is a direct composition of 'multiplicative' (relating to multiplication) and 'inverse' (the opposite or reversing element), so it denotes the inverse with respect to multiplication — i.e. the reciprocal that when multiplied by the original number yields 1. This is a transparent, technical formation found across languages, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents can reasonably infer the meaning.
Etymology
The term multiplicative inverse comes from a simple idea: multiplicative is about multiplying and inverse means doing the opposite. If you multiply a number by its multiplicative inverse you get '1', so this number 'undoes' the multiplication and is also called the 'reciprocal'.