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Basic Math/Reciprocal
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Question
I'm not good with negatives and positives. Or fractions and stuff. So the directions say, "Find the reciprocal of each number". The number is -7. I have tried and can't figure out if I just do the same thing and just make it negative or not. Can you help?
The question is, what multiplied by -7 = 1? So, yes, "do the same thing", which I hope means, put it under 1 (ie 1/7) and make it negative. If it were just 1/7, you would end up with -1, not 1, so the reciprocal of a negative number has to be a negative number. Make sense?
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Basic Math
Answers by Expert:
Lynn Houston
Expertise
I can answer questions in basic algebra and any grade school math.
Experience
Love math, currently helping my nephew get through Intermediate Algebra.
Education/Credentials
I majored in Math Ed in college (but decided not to teach), so have over 40 credits of math.
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