Final answer:
To reciprocate a whole number, you divide 1 by that number, resulting in a fraction with 1 as the numerator and the whole number as the denominator. The reciprocal of 3, for example, is written as 1/3.
Step-by-step explanation:
To reciprocate a whole number, you simply take the value 1 and divide it by that whole number. The reciprocal of a number is just one divided by the number. For example, the reciprocal of 5 is 1/5 or 0.2. When reciprocating whole numbers, the result is always a fraction or a decimal. If you want to keep calculations in whole numbers, you'd need to convert fractional results into mixed numbers or leave them as improper fractions so that the numerator and/or denominator remain whole numbers.
Let's go through the steps:
- Determine the whole number that you need to reciprocate.
- Write a fraction that places 1 in the numerator (the top number) and the whole number in the denominator (the bottom number).
- If desired, convert this fraction to a decimal by performing the division.
For instance, if you want to reciprocate the whole number 3, you would write the fraction 1/3. This fraction is already in simplest form and it should be left as is if you need to keep whole numbers in your calculations.