Reciprocals

1
Reciprocals
A reciprocal is the value used to multiply a
number by to make the product 1
Find the reciprocal of 2
What do we multiply 2 by to get a product of 1?
1 2
2 x 1
Multiplication is commutable
2
Find the reciprocal of 3
What do we multiply 3 by to get a product of 1?
1 3
3 x 1
Find the reciprocal of 10
What do we multiply 10 by to get a product of 1?
1 10
10 x 1
2
Reciprocals
3 x 1 4
4 3
Remember how to multiply fractions
Find the reciprocal of 0.7
7 x 1 10
10 7
So the reciprocal of 0.7 is
3
Reciprocals
First write the mixed number as a top heavy
fraction
3 8
8 3
then follow the same process
Now you know the principles the shortcut to
finding a reciprocal is to swap the numerator and
denominator over
8
8
x
1
3
3
4
Reciprocals
1 6
1 7
4
8
4 7
8
4 5
12
3 5