Expert: Josh - 5/4/2011

Question
QUESTION: Hello:

What is the inverse of the number 1? How is its inverse determined?

I thank you for your reply.

ANSWER: One. The inverse of any number "x", is given by "1/x".

As you can see, when x is multiplied by (1/x), the answer is 1. This is how the meaning of an inverse is derived under multiplication.


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hello:

Let's use another number, for example two (2). As you indicated  "...when x is multiplied by 1/x, the answer is 1."

This works for 1 X 1/1 = 1 but not for 2 X 1/2 = 1. The inverse for 2 is 1/2.

Answer
Kenneth,

There is nothing wrong as far as I can see.
Yes, (1/2) is the multiplicative inverse of 2.
Similarly, 4/3 is the inverse of 3/4.

I'm afraid I don't know what you are getting at when you said "this works for 1 x 1/1 = 1 but not for 2 x 1/2 =1".

Regards,
Josh