pöördarvutustes

Pöördarvutus, also known as reciprocal calculation or inverted calculation, is a mathematical operation that involves finding the multiplicative inverse of a number. The multiplicative inverse of a number 'x' is the number that, when multiplied by 'x', results in 1. This inverse is often represented as 1/x or x⁻¹. For example, the reciprocal of 2 is 1/2, and their product is 2 * (1/2) = 1. Similarly, the reciprocal of 1/3 is 3, and their product is (1/3) * 3 = 1.

This concept is fundamental in various areas of mathematics. Division can be understood as multiplication by the reciprocal. For instance, dividing by 5 is the same as multiplying by its reciprocal, 1/5. In algebra, solving equations often involves using reciprocals to isolate variables. When dealing with fractions, the operation of "inverting and multiplying" is a direct application of finding reciprocals. Furthermore, in fields like engineering and physics, reciprocal relationships are common, such as in Ohm's law where resistance is the reciprocal of conductance. The reciprocal of zero is undefined because any number multiplied by zero is zero, not one.