Part 1/5:

Understanding Negative Reciprocals and Perpendicular Lines

In the realm of mathematics, the concepts of negative reciprocals and their relation to perpendicular lines are crucial for understanding geometric relationships. This article delves into these concepts through clear definitions, examples, and graphical representations.

What is a Reciprocal?

A reciprocal of a number is simply defined as one divided by that number. For example, if one takes Y as a function, the reciprocal can be expressed mathematically as:

[ Y = \frac{1}{f(X)} ]

When we introduce a negative sign, it becomes a negative reciprocal. So, for a number ( a ), the negative reciprocal would be:

[ -\frac{1}{a} ]