Question

What is the opposite and reciprocal of 1/3?

Answer 1

-3.

Explanation:

To find the opposite/reciprocal of a number, flip it and add a negative (or take it away if the number is negative already).

`1/3 -> 3/1`

`3/1->-3/1`

Final Answer

Answer 2

The opposite of `1/3` is `-1/3`,
and the reciprocal of `1/3` is `3`.

Explanation:

The opposite (also known as the additive inverse) is the number we have to add to get an answer equal to the additive identity, `0`. Since `1/3 + (-1/3) = (-1/3) +1/3 =0`, the opposite of `1/3` is `-1/3`.

The reciprocal (also known as the multiplicative inverse) is the number we have to multiply to get an answer equal to the multiplicative identity, `1`. Since `1/3 xx 3 = 3 xx 1/3 =1`, the reciprocal of `1/3` is `3`.
(It may help to remind you that `3 = 3/1`.)