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# reciprocal

adjective; noun (a reciprocal, reciprocals – in maths)

«reciprocal» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. Reciprocal means given and received in return; done by both people or sides for each other: "a reciprocal friendship". [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/reciprocal/#m1)
2. (maths) The reciprocal of a number is 1 divided by that number; a number times its reciprocal equals 1. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/reciprocal/#m2)

### In the lessons

In maths, reciprocals are used to divide fractions: to divide by a fraction, multiply by its reciprocal ("flip it"). In ethics and everyday life, «reciprocal» help or respect goes both ways. Phrases: «reciprocal of», «reciprocal arrangement», «reciprocal respect».

### Examples

- The reciprocal of 4 is 1/4. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/reciprocal/#x1)
- The reciprocal of 2/3 is 3/2. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/reciprocal/#x2)
- To divide by 1/2, multiply by its reciprocal, 2. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/reciprocal/#x3)
- Our schools have a reciprocal visit: we go to them, then they come to us. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/reciprocal/#x4)
- Friendship should be reciprocal; both people care. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/reciprocal/#x5)
- 5 × 1/5 = 1, so 1/5 is the reciprocal of 5. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/reciprocal/#x6)
- The two countries have a reciprocal agreement on health care. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/reciprocal/#x7)

### Note

Adjective, and countable noun in maths. Pronounced ri-SIP-ro-kal. Maths: reciprocal of a/b is b/a; reciprocal of a whole number n is 1/n; zero has no reciprocal (you cannot divide by 0). A number and its reciprocal always multiply to 1. Do not confuse with «opposite» (the opposite of 5 is −5; they add to 0).

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «reciprocal» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/reciprocal/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«reciprocal» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/reciprocal.html) on Mova free.