# Negative reciprocal – Explanation and Examples

Negative reciprocal may sound complicated, but once we’ve understood its concept, you’ll see how easy it is to apply and find a number’s negative reciprocal. Why don’t we dissect the two words?

Negative and reciprocal – this means that a number’s negative reciprocal is the result of multiplying the number’s reciprocal by $\mathbf{-1}$.

As straightforward as its definition, negative reciprocals have a wide range of applications that include finding perpendicular slopes and modeling real-world applications that make use of inverse relationships.

## What is a negative reciprocal?

When dealing with negative reciprocals, we’ll first recall what these two words represent in math: negative and reciprocal.

$\boldsymbol{\dfrac{a}{b} \rightarrow – \dfrac{b}{a} }$

We’ll slowly break down this form, and by the end of this article, you’ll definitely be able to understand what this represents.

Reciprocal

The reciprocal of a number or a function is the value or expression that results from reversing the numerator and denominator’s places.

$\boldsymbol{\dfrac{a}{b}\rightarrow \dfrac{b}{a} }$

Reciprocals are considered multiplicative inverses since they will always be 1 when we multiply a number by its reciprocal.

$\dfrac{a}{b} \cdot \dfrac{b}{a}=1$

Master your knowledge on reciprocals here.

Negative of a Number (or a Function)

The negative of a number or a function is the result of a number being multiplied by -1. Let’s say we have a fraction, $\dfrac{b}{a}$, its negative counterpart will be $-\dfrac{b}{a}$.

$\boldsymbol{-1 \cdot \dfrac{b}{a} = -\dfrac{b}{a}}$

When we combine these two concepts, we’ll have the negative reciprocal of a number. This means that negative reciprocals result from us taking the reciprocal of a number then find the negative value of the result.

Hence, we have $\boldsymbol{\dfrac{a}{b} \rightarrow – \dfrac{b}{a} }$.

## How to find negative reciprocal?

Now that we understand what negative reciprocals represent, how do we manipulate different forms of expressions to have their negative reciprocals?

• Always begin by switching the places of the numerator and the denominator of the fraction.
• Once we have the reciprocal, multiply the result by $\mathbf{-1}$.

We’ve created quick guides you can note when working with different types of numbers and expressions.

Let’s start by learning to find the negative reciprocal of a fraction, $\dfrac{a}{b}$, where $b \neq 0$.

What if we’re working with rational functions  such as $\dfrac{p(x)}{q(x)}$? We apply the same process as we did with fractions.

The rational function and its negative reciprocal will only be valid when $p(x) \neq 0$ and $q(x) \neq 0$.

What if we’re working with whole numbers then? We begin by expressing the whole number as a fraction with $1$ as its denominator. Let’s say we have $m$ as the whole number, we start by expressing it as $\dfrac{m}{1}$ and follow the same process.

A similar process applies for functions such as $f(x)$ that are not rational functions.

Take note that for the negative reciprocals to exist, both $m$ and $f(x)$ must not be equal to $0$.

Excited to try out problems involving negative reciprocals? First, let’s go ahead and summarize what we’ve learned so far about negative reciprocals.

### Summary of reciprocal definition and properties

• This expression represents what occurs in finding the negative reciprocals: $\boldsymbol{\dfrac{a}{b} \rightarrow – \dfrac{b}{a} }$.
• When given a whole number or a function that is not rational, begin by expressing the given as a fraction of 1.
• It is only possible for a constant or a function to have a negative reciprocal when both its numerator and denominator are not equal to $0$.
• A slope of a perpendicular line makes use of negative reciprocals.

That’s it. Make sure to keep these pointers in mind when solving the problems below.

Example 1

Complete the table below by finding the respective negative reciprocals of the following.

 Original Value Negative Reciprocal $\dfrac{1}{2}$ $-\dfrac{2}{3}$ $9$ $- 4\dfrac{1}{7}$

Solution

When finding the negative reciprocal, we begin by switching the fraction’s numerator and denominator places. Let’s work on the first two items first: $\dfrac{1}{2}$ and $-\dfrac{2}{3}$.

Hence, their reciprocals are $\dfrac{2}{1}$ and $-\dfrac{3}{2}$.

For each value, multiply $-1$ to find the corresponding negative reciprocal.

• $-1 \cdot \dfrac{2}{1} = -2$
• $-1 \cdot -\dfrac{3}{2}=\dfrac{3}{2}$.

We’ll actually apply the same process for the last two rows, but let’s first make sure we rewrite them in fraction form. The whole number $9$ can be written as $\dfrac{9}{1}$ and the mixed number $- 4\dfrac{1}{7}$ can be written as $-\dfrac{29}{7}$.

Once we have them in fraction forms, we can now switch the places of their corresponding numerators and denominators then multiplying the respective result by $-1$.

• \begin{aligned}\dfrac{9}{1} \rightarrow \dfrac{1}{9} \rightarrow -\dfrac{1}{9} \end{aligned}
• \begin{aligned} -\dfrac{29}{7} \rightarrow \dfrac{-7}{29} \rightarrow \dfrac{7}{29} \end{aligned}

Hence, we have the completed table as shown below.

 Original Value Negative Reciprocal $\dfrac{1}{2}$ $-2$ $-\dfrac{2}{3}$ $\dfrac{3}{2}$ $9$ $-\dfrac{1}{9}$ $- 4\dfrac{1}{7}$ $-\dfrac{7}{29}$

Example 2

Let $h(x)$ be the negative reciprocal of $f(x)$ for each of the following functions. Find the $h(x)$. What are the restrictions for $x$ in each case?

a. $f(x) = \dfrac{1}{x – 1}$

b. $f(x) = \dfrac{2}{3(x +2)}$

c. $f(x) = x^2 – 3x – 54$

Solution

We apply the same process when finding the negative reciprocals of functions.

a. This means that we begin by switching the places of $1$ and $x – 1$ to find the reciprocal of $f(x)$. We then multiply the result by $-1$.

\begin{aligned}h(x)&=-1\cdot \dfrac{x-1}{1}\\&=-1\cdot x – 1\\&\mathbf{-x + 1} \end{aligned}

Since $h(x)$ is a linear expression, it has not restrictions. The function $f(x)$, however, must not have $x – 1 = 0$, so $\mathbf{x \neq 0}$.

b. We apply the same process from a. Hence, we have $h(x)$ as shown below.

\begin{aligned}h(x)&=-1\cdot \dfrac{3(x+2)}{2}\\&=-1\cdot \dfrac{3x+6}{2}\\&=\mathbf{-\dfrac{3x+6}{2}} \end{aligned}

The function $h(x)$ has a constant as its denominator, so it has no restrictions for $x$. The function $f(x)$, however, can’t have $3(x + 2) = 0$, so $\mathbf{x \neq -2}$.

c. Express $f(x)$ as a fraction by having $1$ as its denominator, so $f(x) = \dfrac{ x^2 – 3x – 54}{1}$. Now, apply the same process to find the negative reciprocal, $h(x)$.

\begin{aligned}h(x)&=-1\cdot \dfrac{1}{x^2-3x-54}\\&=\mathbf{-\dfrac{1}{x^2-3x-54}}\\ \end{aligned}

Since $f(x)$ is a polynomial, it has no restrictions for $x$. Its negative reciprocal, however, can’t have zero in its denominator. We can find the restrictions for $h(x)$ by finding the values where $x^2 – 3x – 54$ is zero.

\begin{aligned} x^2 -3x – 54&=0\\(x – 9)(x + 6)&=0\\x&=9\\x&-6\end{aligned}

This means that for $h(x)$ to be valid, $\mathbf{x \neq \{-6,9\}}$.

Example 3

The graph of the linear function, $f(x)$, is perpendicular to the graph of $h(x)$, which is also linear function. If $f(x)$ has a slope of $-\dfrac{2}{3}$, what is the slope of $h(x)$?

Solution

As we have mentioned in the discussion, finding negative reciprocals is crucial when finding the slopes of perpendicular lines.

Since we have the slope of $f(x)$, we can find the slope of $h(x)$ by finding the negative reciprocal of $-\dfrac{2}{3}$.

\begin{aligned}m_\perp &= -1 \cdot-\dfrac{3}{2}\\&=\dfrac{3}{2} \end{aligned}

This means that the slope of $h(x)$ is $\dfrac{3}{2}$ for it to be perpendicular to $f(x)$.

Example 4

The negative reciprocal of $f(x)$ is $\dfrac{x^2 – 2}{x – 5}$. What is the expression for $f(x)$?

Solution

This time, we’re given the negative reciprocal. We need to find the expression for $f(x)$ by reversing the steps:

• We start by multiplying $-1$ back on the negative reciprocal to reverse the changes in the sign.
• Switch the places of the negative reciprocal’s numerator and denominator.

\begin{aligned}f(x)&=-1\cdot \dfrac{x-5}{x^2-2}\\&=\dfrac{-x+5}{x^2-2} \end{aligned}

This means that $\mathbf{f(x) =\dfrac{-x+5}{x^2-2}}$.

Notice something about the steps? They are actually the same process because the negative reciprocal of a function’s negative reciprocal will be $\mathbf{f(x)}$.

Example 6

If a given number is twenty-seven times larger than its negative reciprocal’s square, find the number.

Solution

Let $n$ be the number we’re looking for, so its negative can be expressed as $-\dfrac{1}{n}$. Set up the equation representing the situation.

$n=27\cdot\left(-\dfrac{1}{n} \right )^2$

Simplify this equation by multiplying both sides of the equation by $n^2$ and taking the cube root of both sides of the equation.

\begin{aligned}n&=\dfrac{27}{n^2}\\n^3&=27\\\sqrt[3]{n^3} &=\sqrt[3]{27}\\n&=3 \end{aligned}

This means that for the number to satisfy the condition, it must be equal to 3.

### Practice Questions

1. True or False: The negative reciprocal of $\dfrac{1}{5}$ is equal to $-\dfrac{1}{5}$.

2. True or False: The negative reciprocal of $-\dfrac{6}{11}$ is equal to $-\dfrac{11}{6}$.

3. True or False: The negative reciprocal of $-12$ is equal to $-\dfrac{1}{12}$.

4. True or False: The negative reciprocal of $2\dfrac{3}{8}$ is equal to $-\dfrac{8}{19}$.

5. Let $h(x)$ be the negative reciprocal of $f(x)$ for each of the following functions. If $f(x) = \dfrac{2}{3x – 5}$, which of the following shows the expression for $h(x)$?

6. Let $h(x)$ be the negative reciprocal of $f(x)$ for each of the following functions. If $f(x) = \dfrac{x}{2(x – 3)}$, which of the following shows the expression for $h(x)$?

7. Let $h(x)$ be the negative reciprocal of $f(x)$ for each of the following functions. If $f(x) = x^2 – 7x – 30$, which of the following shows the expression for $h(x)$?

8. Let $h(x)$ be the negative reciprocal of $f(x)$ for each of the following functions. If $f(x) = 1 + \dfrac{1}{x – 2}$, which of the following shows the expression for $h(x)$?

9. True or False: The reciprocal of the negative reciprocal of a function is equal to the function itself.

10. The graph of the linear function, $f(x)$, is perpendicular to the graph of $h(x)$, which is also a linear function. If $f(x)$ has a slope of $-2\dfrac{1}{5}$, what is the slope of $h(x)$?

11. The negative reciprocal of $f(x)$ is $\dfrac{x^2 – 2}{x – 5}$. What is the expression for $f(x)$?

12. Let $h(x)$ be the negative reciprocal of $f(x)$. What is the expression of $h(x)$ given that $f(x) = \dfrac{4x – 3}{2}$?

13. Let $h(x)$ be the negative reciprocal of $f(x)$. What is the graph of $h(x)$ given that $f(x) = \dfrac{4x – 3}{2}$?

14. If a given number is sixty-four times larger than its negative reciprocal’s square, what is the number?

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