what is a reciprocal?

Question

amistre64 · Answer

its a fancy term used when you want to flip somethng upside down:

the reciprocal of 1/2  is  2/1

the reciprocal of 5/3 is 3/5

the reciprocal of X is X^-1 =  1/X

anonymous · Answer

How about ... 3  1/4

amistre64 · Answer

to turn a "mixed" number into its reciprocal; we first have to turn the "mixed" number into what is called an "improper fraction".

An improper fraction is just a fraction that is "top heavy:  for example:  14/3 and  76/22.

Do you know how we can turn 3  1/4 into an improper fraction?

anonymous · Answer

I really wanna answer but .. I have no clue ,How?

amistre64 · Answer

thats ok... lets figure out what this mixed number is telling us..and we can use pies for that :)

anonymous · Answer

http://www.mathsisfun.com/reciprocal.html easy to understand

amistre64 · Answer

the two parts of this mixed number is the whole part (3)  and the fraction part (1/4); which is why it is called "mixed" to begin with.

Now imagine yourself with 3 pies and (1/4) of another pie...

How many "peices" of pie do you have if all the pies where cut into 4 pieces each?

anonymous · Answer

13?

amistre64 · Answer

thats right... very good!

We have 13/4  peices of pie.  Now that we have an "improper" fraction; we can find it reciprocal by just flipping it over.... can you do that for me?

anonymous · Answer

4/13

amistre64 · Answer

yep, youre a pro at it :)

anonymous · Answer

thank you so much:) i have been on this site for about 2 hours now and your the first person that actually helped me so thank you

amistre64 · Answer

youre quite welcome :)

anonymous · Answer

okay wait. when im using reciprocals and the problem is 12 .. just 12 ,what do i do?

amistre64 · Answer

12 is an improper fraction in disguise....  all single numbers like "12" are standing on top of a "1".

3 = 3/1

28 = 18/1

356 = 356/1

12 = 12/1   , so now that we see it for what it is; flip it over :)

1/12

amistre64 · Answer

28 = 28/1 .... but your smart enough to figure that out :)

anonymous · Answer

yeah lol i kinda figured thats what you ment

amistre64 · Answer

....just gonna rain all day here....

anonymous · Answer

huh?

amistre64 · Answer

the weather outside is rather wet today.... and thundery :)

anonymous · Answer

not here lol luckely

anonymous · Answer

but still pretty cold here