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What is the opposite and reciprocal of 1?

Answer 1

Hazel Anglin

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

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Answer 2

Eva Abramson

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

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Answer 3

Julia Adams

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

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#.)

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Answer from HIX Tutor

When evaluating a one-sided limit, you need to be careful when a quantity is approaching zero since its sign is different depending on which way it is approaching zero from. Let us look at some examples.