Chapter 1: Problem 9
Give the reciprocal of each number. \(-\frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}\)
Short Answer
Expert verified
The reciprocal is \(-\sqrt{2}\).
Step by step solution
01
Understand the Concept of Reciprocal
The reciprocal of a number is simply 1 divided by that number. If the number is a fraction, the reciprocal is obtained by flipping the numerator and the denominator. For any non-zero number \( a \), the reciprocal is \( \frac{1}{a} \).
02
Identify the Fraction Components
The given number is \( -\frac{1}{\sqrt{2}} \), which has a numerator of \(-1\) and a denominator of \(\sqrt{2}\).
03
Flip the Fraction
To find the reciprocal, flip the numerator and the denominator of the fraction. This results in \(-\sqrt{2}\).
04
Simplify the Answer
Although \(-\sqrt{2}\) is already in a simplified form, if we needed a more rationalized form, it would still result in \(-\sqrt{2}\) because it already complies with standard simplification.
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Understanding Fractions
In mathematics, fractions are a way of expressing numbers that are not whole. A fraction consists of two main parts: a numerator and a denominator. Fractions are an essential concept because they allow us to represent values that lie between whole numbers in a precise manner.
- Fractions are expressed as \ \( \frac{a}{b} \ \), where \ \( a \ \) is the numerator and \ \( b \ \) is the denominator.
- Fractions can represent parts of a whole, portions of sets, or even results of division operations.
- Understanding fractions is crucial for performing various mathematical operations, such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division of these numbers.
Defining the Numerator
The numerator is the top part of a fraction. It tells you how many parts of the whole you have. For instance, in the fraction \ \( \frac{3}{5} \ \), the numerator is 3.
- The numerator indicates the number of parts being considered from a division or subset of the denominator.
- When working with fractions, the numerator provides clarity by specifying how many parts are being discussed or represented.
- The numerator is crucial in operations such as flipping a fraction to find its reciprocal.
What is a Denominator?
The denominator is the bottom part of a fraction. It tells you into how many equal parts the whole is divided. If you look at a fraction like \ \( \frac{3}{5} \ \), the denominator is 5.
- The denominator determines the scale or size of each part of the whole.
- Knowing the denominator is essential for comparing or converting fractions, as it allows for clear understanding of how the parts relate to the total.
- In the process of finding reciprocals, the denominator swaps with the numerator.
Exploring the Square Root
A square root is a value that, when multiplied by itself, gives the original number. For example, the square root of 9 is 3 because \ \(3 \times 3 = 9\ \). Square roots are often used in simplifying expressions and solving quadratic equations.
- Square roots show up frequently in various areas of mathematics, including geometry and algebra.
- You can express the square root of a number \ \( x \ \) using the symbol \ \( \sqrt{x} \ \).
- Understanding square roots is crucial when dealing with operations that require rationalizing denominators in fractions that involve roots.