Chapter 1.1, Problem 4E

In Exercises 1–4, make the given changes in the indicated examples of this section, and then answer the given questions.

In Example 6, change the $\frac{2}{3}$ to $\frac{3}{2}$. What other changes must then be made?

EXAMPLE 6 Reciprocal

The reciprocal of 7 is $\frac{1}{7}$. The reciprocal of $\frac{2}{3}$ is

The reciprocal of 0.5 is $\frac{1}{0.5}=2$. The reciprocal of ‒π is – $\frac{1}{\pi }$. Note that the negative sign is retained in the reciprocal of a negative number.

We showed the multiplication of 1 and $\frac{3}{2}$ as 1 × $\frac{3}{2}$. We could also show it as $1·\frac{3}{2}$ or $1\left(\frac{3}{2}\right)$. We will often find the form with parentheses is preferable.