Question

Match the following numbers with their multiplicative inverses.

• A. does not exist
• B. 5
• C. $\frac{1}{-2}$
• D. 1

Answer 1

The multiplicative inverse of a number 'a' is that number which when multiplied with 'a', yields 1. i.e., $\frac{1}{a}$.
Multiplicative inverse of 1 = $\frac{1}{1}$ = 1
Multiplicative inverse of $\frac{1}{5}$ = $\frac{1}{\frac{1}{5}}$ = 5
Multiplicative inverse of $\frac{-1}{0.5}$ = $\frac{1}{\frac{-1}{0.5}}$ = $\frac{1}{-2}$
Multiplicative inverse of 0 does not exist as division by 0 is not defined.