All GMAT Math Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #81 : Understanding Exponents
is the additive inverse of the multiplicative inverse of ; is the additive inverse of the multiplicative inverse of . Which of the following is equal to the expression
regardless of the values of the variables?
is an undefined quantity
The additive inverse of a number is the number which, when added to that number, yields sum 0; the multiplicative inverse of a number is the number which, when multiplied by that number, yields product 1.
Let be the multiplicative inverse of . Then
, or, equivalently, .
is the additive inverse of this number, so
By similar reasoning, , and
Example Question #81 : Exponents
Which of the following is equal to ?
Divide:
Substitute:
Example Question #82 : Exponents
is the additive inverse of ; is the multiplicative inverse of . Which of the following is equal to the expression
regardless of the values of the variables?
must be an undefined quantity.
The additive inverse of a number is the number which, when added to that number, yields sum 0. Since is the additive inverse of ,
The multiplicative inverse of a number is the number which, when multiplied by that number, yields product 1. Since is the multiplicative inverse of , then
, or .
It follows that
.
0 raised to any nonzero power is equal to 0, and must be nonzero, so
, the correct response.
Example Question #1181 : Problem Solving Questions
is the additive inverse of ; is the additive inverse of . Which of the following is equal to the expression
regardless of the values of the variables?
must be an undefined quantity
must be an undefined quantity
The additive inverse of a number is the number which, when added to that number, yields sum 0. Since is the additive inverse of and is the additive inverse of ,
and
,
which is an undefined expression.