Chapter 1.2, Problem 35PPS

To determine

To find: the additive and multiplicative inverse of the given number.

Answer to Problem 35PPS

The additive and multiplicative inverse of the given number is $-\sqrt{15}$ and $\left(\frac{\sqrt{15}}{15}\right)$ respectively.

Explanation of Solution

Given information:

A real number is given as

  $\sqrt{15}$

Concept used:

For any real numbers $a,b$ , and $c$ real numbers properties are tabulated below:

Property	Addition	Multiplication
Commutative	$a+b=b+a$	$a\cdot b=b\cdot a$
Associative	$\left(a+b\right)+c=a+\left(b+c\right)$	$\left(a\cdot b\right)\cdot c=a\cdot \left(b\cdot c\right)$
Identity	$a+0=0+a=a$ 0 is identity element for addition	$a\cdot 1=1\cdot a=a$ 1 is identity element for Multiplication
Inverse	$a+\left(-a\right)=\left(-a\right)+a=0$   $\left(-a\right)$ is inverse element for addition	$a\cdot \frac{1}{a}=\frac{1}{a}\cdot a=1$   $\frac{1}{a}$ is inverse element for Multiplication
Closure	$a+b$ is real number	$a\cdot b$ is real number
Distributive	$\begin{array}{l}a\left(b+c\right)=ab+bc\\ \left(b+c\right)a=ba+ca\end{array}$	$\begin{array}{l}a\left(b+c\right)=ab+bc\\ \left(b+c\right)a=ba+ca\end{array}$

Calculation:

Consider the given number.

  $\sqrt{15}$

Let the additive inverse of the number be $a$ .

  $\begin{array}{c}\sqrt{15}+a=0\\ \sqrt{15}+a-\sqrt{15}=0-\sqrt{15}\\ a=-\sqrt{15}\end{array}$

Hence, the additive inverse of the number is $-\sqrt{15}$ .

Now, let the multiplicative inverse of the number be $b$ .

  $\begin{array}{c}\sqrt{15}\cdot b=1\\ \frac{\sqrt{15}\cdot b}{\sqrt{15}}=\frac{1}{\sqrt{15}}\\ b=\frac{1}{\sqrt{15}}\times \frac{\sqrt{15}}{\sqrt{15}}\\ =\frac{\sqrt{15}}{15}\end{array}$

Hence, the multiplicative inverse of the number is $\left(\frac{\sqrt{15}}{15}\right)$ .