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Nathan4102

Mon Jun 10, 2013 7:16 pm


Slope question

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Quick question... My teachers homework answers say the negative reciprocal (NR) of 0/8 is -1 via this process:

=0 / 8
=0/1
NR =-1

I mean, 0/8 is equal to 0/1, but I got this:

=0/8
=0
NR = 0

I'm pretty sure I'm right, but my teachers answers aren't usually wrong. Who's right here?


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Raknarg

Mon Jun 10, 2013 7:21 pm


RE:Slope question

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I'm pretty sure the opposite of zero is infinity, in regards to slope:

m = 1/0

NR = 0/1

Think about it. if you have a flat line on a graph, what is the opposite of that?


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Insectoid

Mon Jun 10, 2013 7:24 pm


RE:Slope question

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The negative reciprocal of a/b = -b/a. Therefore the reciprocal of 0/8 = -1/0 = undefined. It's a vertical line.


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Nathan4102

Mon Jun 10, 2013 7:28 pm


RE:Slope question

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-_- Not sure why I thought the opposite of 0 was 0. Makes sense now, thanks guys!