What is the opposite and reciprocal of 1?

2 Answers
Jun 25, 2015

The opposite and reciprocal of 1 is #-1/1#, which is just -1.

Jun 25, 2015

The opposite of #1# is #-1# and
the reciprocal of #1# is #1#.

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 + (-1) = (-1) + 1 =0#, the opposite of #1# is #-1#.

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 xx 1 =1#, the reciprocal of #1# is #1#.
(The only numbers that are their own reciprocals are #1# and #-1#.)