What is the reciprocal of 5?

2 Answers
Mar 14, 2017

The reciprocal is 1/5

Explanation:

The reciprocal of a number is also called its multiplicative inverse.

To find the reciprocal you flip the number.

5 = 5/1 as a fraction

The reciprocal is 1/5

When you multiply a number by its reciprocal the answer is always 1 which is the identity element for multiplication and division.

5/1 xx 1/5 = 1

a/1 xx 1/a = 1" " assuming that a !=0

Mar 14, 2017

1/5

Explanation:

The reciprocal of a number is the number that when multiplied by the original number gives 1.

so for example because 2xx1/2=1

1/2" "is the reciprocal of 2

so for 5 it is 1/5

in general the reciprocal of" "a/b" "is" "b/a

( remember that any integer can be written as a fraction by putting it over 1

eg." " 5rarr5/1