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Reciprocals

Maths: Edexcel IGCSE Higher, topic 1.2.4

Reciprocals

A reciprocal of a number is 1 divided by that number. If you multiply a number by its reciprocal, you'll get an answer of 1.

Examples

Examples

  • The reciprocal of 5 is 15\large \frac{1}{5}.
  • The reciprocal of 100 is 1100\large \frac{1}{100}.
  • The reciprocal of −2 is −12\large \frac{1}{2}.
Reciprocals of fractions

Reciprocals of fractions

  • To find the reciprocal of a fraction, you can flip the fraction.
  • E.g. the reciprocal of 35\large \frac{3}{5} is 53\large \frac{5}{3}.
  • E.g. the reciprocal of 83\large \frac{8}{3} is 38\large \frac{3}{8}.
  • E.g. the reciprocal of 1013\large \frac{10}{13} is 1310\large \frac{13}{10}.
Multiplying by a reciprocal

Multiplying by a reciprocal

  • If you multiply a number by it's reciprocal, you will get an answer of 1.
  • 5 × 15\large \frac{1}{5} = 1
  • 10 × 110\large \frac{1}{10} = 1
  • −7 × −17\large \frac{1}{7} = 1

Test yourself on Reciprocals

  • What is the reciprocal of 5?

  • What is the reciprocal of 100?

  • What is the reciprocal of 12?

  • What is the reciprocal of −2?

  • What is the reciprocal of −6?

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