# Inverse – Definition with Examples

» Inverse – Definition with Examples

## Definition of Inverse?

In mathematics, the word inverse refers to the opposite of another operation.

Let us look at some examples to understand the meaning of inverse.

Example 1:

The addition means to find the sum, and subtraction means taking away. So, subtraction is the opposite of addition. Hence, addition and subtraction are opposite operations.  We may say, subtraction is the inverse operation of addition.

Example 2:

However, the division is repeated subtraction. The same number gets subtracted repeatedly.  So, division is the opposite of multiplication. Hence, multiplication and division are opposite operations. We may say, division, is the inverse operation of multiplication.

So, we see that multiplication and division are inverses of each other.

## Multiplicative Identity:

A multiplicative identity is a number that when multiplied by any non-zero number gives the same number as the product.

For example, if a is any non-zero number, then multiplying a  by 1 gives the product as the number itself.

a × 1 = a

Therefore, 1 is the multiplicative identity.

## Multiplicative Inverse:

A multiplicative inverse is a number which when multiplied by a number gives 1 (multiplicative identity) as the product.

If a is any non-zero number, then multiplying a by what number gives the product as 1?

a × ? = 1

As, aa = 1, we need a number in which a is in the denominators place. We have a in the numerator. So, we keep 1 is the numerator of this number and get 1a.

a × 1a = 1

So, 1a is the multiplicative inverse of a.

Multiplicative inverse is also called a reciprocal.

Reciprocal of a number is obtained by interchanging its numerator and denominator.

The multiplicative inverse of a is 1and multiplicative inverse of a fraction  ab is ba

## Practice Problems

Operations that are opposite of each other are known as inverse operations. For example, division is the inverse operation of multiplication and subtraction is the inverse operation of addition.

Multiplication and Division: 3 ✕ 4 = 12 and 12 ÷ 4 = 3. Addition and Subtraction: 8 + 2 = 10 and 10 – 2 = 8.

No, multiplicative inverse and inverse operations are not the same things. To begin with, the multiplicative inverse of a number is division of 1 by that number (e.g., 5 and ⅕). Inverse operations are opposite operations that undo each other. For example, 5 ✕ 2 = 10 and 10 ÷ 2 = 5 are inverse operations.

Inverse operations are used in solving algebraic equations. For example, to separate a variable from its coefficient (the number it is multiplied by) in a linear equation (e.g., 3x = 12), we divide both sides of the equation by that coefficient.

Introduction to Multiplication

Play Now

Multiplication Properties

Play Now