A Guide to the GRE/Reciprocals and Inverses

Reciprocals & Inverses

The larger the denominator or divisor, the lower the value.

y =is an example of an inverse correlation. As y increases, x decreases.

Thus, if a is positive, is greater than

If s is positive, 1 ÷ s is greater than 1 ÷ (s + 1).

Practice

1. If g = 7 ÷ h, then which is greater: 7 ÷ (h + 1), or g?

2. If< .5, what must be true about y in relation to x?

3. If= 40, then what is the value of ?

Answers to Practice Questions

1. g is greater.

As the denominator increases, the value decreases. Thus, g, which is equal tois greater than

2. y must be greater than x.

If the numerator is less than half of the denominator, the fraction is less than .5; if the numerator is greater than half of the denominator, the fraction is greater than .5. For instance, equals which is less than or

3. If= 40, = 20

Doubling the denominator cuts the value in half. is half of