Inverse definition
An example of an inverse is 1/4 to 4.
An example of something inverse is the relationship between division and multiplication.
The inverse of x is 1/x.
Multiplication is the inverse operation to division.
Deposing is the opposite of installing, and vice versa.
The additive inverse of x is -x as, x + -x = 0 where 0 is the additive identity element.
The multiplicative inverse of x is x-1 as, x * x-1 = 1 where 1 is the multiplicative identity element.
The compositional inverse of a function f is f–1 as, f f–1 is the identity function (ie f–1(f(a)) = a for all a).
- The reciprocal of a designated quantity.
- The negative of a designated quantity.
Subtraction is the inverse operation of addition.
Origin of inverse
- Middle English from Latin inversus past participle of invertere to invert invert
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
- Recorded since 1440, from Latin inversus, the past participle of invertere 'to invert', itself from in- 'in, on' + vertere 'to turn'
From Wiktionary