Posted by MathBard on November 03, 2002 at 19:43:19:
In Reply to: reciprocals posted by McFudd on November 03, 2002 at 10:56:21:
: Can anyone please explain why divding by a number is the same as mutiplying by that number's reciprocal? I'd really appreciate it. Thanks!!!
Lemme try a couple of diffrent. One of them might stick to ya!
10/5 (ten divided by five) written this way has become a fraction rather you like it or not! They are unavoidable in division.
Any number times one is that number. so...
10=(10/1) duh.. (10/1) * (1/5)= (10/5) and you are at the same place you were when you divided ...
or...
Multiplication is the opposite of division, and (1/5) is the opposite of 5. Two opposites get you back where you started like two 180 degree turns!
It is similar in addition and subtraction: adding a negative is the same as subtracting a positive, and subtracting a negative is the same as adding a positive. DOUBLE OPPOSITES get you back where you started.
The question: Does this prove two wrongs DO make a right? I know 3 lefts make a right!
MB