Difference Between Inverse & Reciprocal

In summary: COS to the exponent of -1)In summary, the conversation discusses the difference between reciprocal and inverse, particularly in terms of trigonometric functions. Reciprocal is used for scalar inverses, while inverse can apply to various situations such as additive or multiplicative inverses, inverse functions, and iterated functions. The inverse trig functions can lead to confusion, as they are not true functions. Inverting a function means switching the x and y values, while reciprocating a function involves switching the numerator and denominator. In general, the inverse of a function is not the same as the reciprocal of the function.
  • #1
naicidrac
14
0
Hello,
can someone tell me the difference between reciprocal and the inverse. I have looked up the defenition and when I think I get a deep understanding I get confused. Thanks for all the help.

Naicidrac
 
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  • #2
naicidrac said:
Hello,
can someone tell me the difference between reciprocal and the inverse.

Maybe. What kind of inverse? Do you mean "multiplicative inverse" or do you mean "inverse function"?

I have looked up the defenition and when I think I get a deep understanding I get confused. Thanks for all the help.

Naicidrac
 
  • #3
I think reciprocal is used for the scalar inverses, like 1/x. though, I am not neither native speaker nor a die-hard notation expert.
 
  • #4
"inverse" can apply to a number of different situations.

In ordinary arithmetic the additive inverse is the negative: the additive inverse of 2 is -2.

The multiplicative inverse is the reciprocal: the multiplicative inverse of 2 is [itex]\frac{1}{2}[/itex].

If we are talking about functions, then the inverse function is the inverse with respect to "composition of functions": f(f-1(x))= x and f-1(f(x))= x.

The word "inverse" can be applied to all of those (and more) but "reciprocal" only applies to multiplicative inverse.
 
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  • #5
Ok awesome, Thanks for the clarity. I am thinking in terms of a trigonometric function like the difference between 1/sin(X) and sin^-1(X). What is the difference between these?
 
  • #6
1/sin(x) is the reciprocal of sin(x) so if sin(x) = 0,5 then 1/sin(x) = 2.
sin^-1(x) is the inverse function of sin(x), sometimes also called arcsin(x).
 
  • #7
naicidrac said:
Ok awesome, Thanks for the clarity. I am thinking in terms of a trigonometric function like the difference between 1/sin(X) and sin^-1(X). What is the difference between these?

Out of sneaky, sleazy suggestiveness, mathematicians have adopted the convention [itex]f^{-1}(x)[/itex] for the inverse of a function, although if we think in terms of powers, this might be misunderstood as [itex](f(x))^{-1}=\frac{1}{f(x)}[/itex], i.e, the reciprocal of f, rather than the inverse function!

Note in particular the nasty convention of the inverse trig functions, like [itex]\tan^{-1}(x)[/itex].

Here, students are particularly prone to confuse the inverse trig with the reciprocal of the trig, because for all natural n's we choose to write [itex]\tan^{n}(x)[/itex], rather than the cumbersome [itex](\tan(x))^{n}[/tex]



To make the issue even muddier, you may be unfortunate enough to see an iterated function like f(f(f(x))) written as [itex]f^{3}(x)[/itex] :smile:
 
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  • #8
Reciprocal implies an equality. To reciprocate a smile means to smile back.
While inverse implies an opposite. To invert a smile means to frown.
However in mathematics it is often stated that the inverse of a number is the reciprocal of a number.
I believe, however, this is incorrect usage.

Very confusing when dealing with trig functions.
First of all, can they truly be called functions?

It seems tan^2 (x) is equivalent to tan(x) * tan(x).
But again, you have to be careful, because this is different from tan(tan x) or even tan (x + x).

These errors are similar to other distributing errors, such as,
(3 x 3) x 2 = 6 x 6
or (3 + 3)^2 = 9 + 9
(which are false)
 
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  • #9
arildno said:
To make the issue even muddier, you may be unfortunate enough to see an iterated function like f(f(f(x))) written as [itex]f^{3}(x)[/itex] :smile:
Insidious!
 
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  • #10
pmoseman said:
Very confusing when dealing with trig functions.
First of all, can they truly be called functions?
Of course they can be called functions. Each one of the trig functions pairs a number in its domain with a number in its range. Did you mean the inverse trig functions when you said this? If so, the inverse of the function y = sin(x) is not itself a function, since each number in the domain of the inverse function maps to an infinite number of values in the range. To get around this problem, the domains of the trig functions are limited to an interval on which the trig function is one-to-one, thereby permitting an inverse that is a function.
pmoseman said:
It seems tan^2 (x) is equivalent to tan(x) * tan(x).
More precisely, they are identically equal by definition of the notation.
pmoseman said:
But again, you have to be careful, because this is different from tan(tan x) or even tan (x + x).
I'm not aware of any special notation for collapsing tan(tan(x)). tan(x + x) = tan(2x), which would be difficult to confuse with tan2(x).
 
  • #11
To find the inverse of 2x = y, (we switch the x with the y)
we use 2y = x OR y=x/2

For the reciprocal of 2x = y (we switch the denominator with the numerator of y)
that is 2x = 1/y OR y = 1/2x

Remember a reciprocal of a number is any number you can multiply by that number to = 1.
such as -1 and -1, or 12 and 1/12

It may help to remember an inverse can be either - or + but the reciprocal will always be the same sign (thus it reciprocates the sign)

Take the function, F(x) = 3x + 2
y = 3x + 2 is changed to x = 3y+2 OR y = x/3 + 2
The reciprocal of F(x) is 1/F(x).
y = 3x+2 is changed to 1/y = 3x+2 OR y=1/(3x+2)

If we set x to 0 we get -2 and 1/2, for the inverse and reciprocal functions respectively.
However, if you solve for F(x) with you see that y = 2.
The reciprocal of 2 is 1/2. The inverse is -2.This is what happens to exponents:
When you invert x^N= y you get:
y^N = x,
y = x^(1/N)
OR y= nth root of x

When you reciprocate x^N=y you get:
1/y = x^N,
y = x^(-N)
OR y=1/x^N

Through inverting the exponent is reciprocated! This is very non-intuitive... or so you would think!

tan(x) = sin (x) / cos (x)
1/tan(x) = cos (x) / sin(x)
tan(-1)(x) = ?
So how do you find inverse trig functions?
Well if you dedicate to memory your trig functions
COS (0) = 1
you know [COS (1)]^-1 = 0
It is just reversing x and y of the function (cos (x) = y).

if COS angle A is equal to X/R, then COS^(-1) of X/R is equal to angle A.
 
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  • #12
Mark44 said:
Of course they can be called functions. Each one of the trig functions pairs a number in its domain with a number in its range. Did you mean the inverse trig functions when you said this? If so, the inverse of the function y = sin(x) is not itself a function, since each number in the domain of the inverse function maps to an infinite number of values in the range. To get around this problem, the domains of the trig functions are limited to an interval on which the trig function is one-to-one, thereby permitting an inverse that is a function.
More precisely, they are identically equal by definition of the notation.

I'm not aware of any special notation for collapsing tan(tan(x)). tan(x + x) = tan(2x), which would be difficult to confuse with tan2(x).

Well, I have seen people try to factor/distribute with functions as if they were coefficients. I probably should have stated this.

What I meant by asking if trigs are functions is: don't we just use a chart to find trig values? Without a formula could it be a true function?
 
  • #13
pmoseman said:
What I meant by asking if trigs are functions is: don't we just use a chart to find trig values? Without a formula could it be a true function?

A formula isn't necessary since functions are defined in terms of collections of ordered pairs. More explicitly, a function [itex]f[/itex] is a collection of ordered pairs such that if [itex](a,b)[/itex] and [itex](a,c)[/itex] are both in [itex]f[/itex] then [itex]b = c[/itex]. Therefore, so long as that property is satisfied, then the trigonometric functions really are functions.

And if you're really that caught up about formulas and equations, then how about this:

[tex]\sin{(x)} = \sum_{n=0}^{\infty}\frac{(-1)^nx^{2n+1}}{(2n+1)!}[/tex]
 
  • #14
Ooo, pretty...
 
  • #15
Code:
but "reciprocal" only applies to multiplicative inverse.

Well sort of but there is such a thing in engineering as the 'reciprocal theorem'. This is a totally different animal.

I think the arcsin(x) v 1/sin(x) example sums it up very well too.
 
  • #16
pmoseman said:
Insidious!

Not to mention diabolical!

I came here for primarily the same clarification. I'm just accepting it that in trig reciprocal is the same as a multiplicative reciprocal unless we're talking about identities then it's a reciprocal ID i.e. sin x = 1/csc x and inverses are i.e. sin¯ ¹ .

JW
 

FAQ: Difference Between Inverse & Reciprocal

What is the difference between inverse and reciprocal?

In mathematics, the inverse of a number is the value that, when multiplied by the original number, gives a product of 1. The reciprocal, on the other hand, is the value that, when multiplied by the original number, gives a product of the multiplicative identity, which is also 1.

How are inverse and reciprocal related?

The inverse and reciprocal of a number are related in that they are essentially the same value, but with a different mathematical operation. The inverse is found by dividing 1 by the original number, while the reciprocal is found by dividing the multiplicative identity by the original number.

Can the inverse or reciprocal of a number be negative?

Yes, the inverse and reciprocal of a number can be negative. This is because the sign of a number is determined by its position on the number line, and the inverse and reciprocal values still fall within the same position on the number line.

Can any number have an inverse or reciprocal value?

Yes, any non-zero number can have an inverse and reciprocal value. This is because the only number that cannot have an inverse or reciprocal is 0, since dividing by 0 is undefined in mathematics.

How are inverse and reciprocal used in real life?

Inverse and reciprocal values are commonly used in physics and engineering to solve problems involving rates, proportions, and transformations. They are also used in financial calculations, such as finding the inverse of an interest rate to calculate the present value of an investment.

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