Question

What is the multiplicative inverse of y?

Answer 1

The multiplicative inverse of y is
`(1)/(y)`.

Explanation:

Multiplicative inverse implies a value that you would multiply with the given value so as to give 1.

Let the multiplicative inverse of y be represented by a, so that;

a x y = 1

ay = 1

divide both sides by y to have,

a =
`(1)/(y)`

Thus, the multiplicative inverse of y is
`(1)/(y)`.

This is applicable to any given value. Examples:

i. Given 2, the multiplicative inverse is
`(1)/(2)`.

⇒ 2 x
`(1)/(2)` = 1

ii. What is the multiplicative inverse of 5?

The required answer is
`(1)/(5)`.