What is the opposite and reciprocal of -4?

3 Answers
May 4, 2018

The opposite is the negation, #-(-4) = 4#.

The reciprocal is #1/(-4) = -1/4#

May 4, 2018

#4" and "-1/4#

Explanation:

#"the opposite of a number is the negative of the number"#

#rArr"opposite of "-4" is "-(-4)=4#

#"the reciprocal of any number n is "1/n#

#rArr"reciprocal of "-4" is "1/(-4)=-1/4#

May 4, 2018

The additive inverse of #-4# is #+4#

The reciprocal of #-4 # is #-1/4#

Explanation:

There are two types of 'opposites':

Opposites for adding and opposites for multiplying.

Adding opposites are known as "Additive inverses".
Their sum is always #0#.

#(-3)+(+3) = 0#

#(+15)+(-15)=0#

They have the same value but opposite signs,

Multiplying opposites are known as "multiplicative inverses"
which are also known as "reciprocals'.

Their product is always #1#

#2/3 xx 3/2 = 1#

#-5/2 xx -2/5 = 1#

#a/b xxb/a = 1#

(The number is inverted to find its reciprocal)