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No. "inverse" has a very specific meaning: the operation that undoes whatever operation you're talking about. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inverse_function
by quietbritishjim 2y ago
No. "inverse" has a very specific meaning: the operation that undoes whatever operation you're talking about.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inverse_function https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inverse_function
The inverse of multiplying by 3 is dividing by 3, and vice-versa.
The inverse of squaring is squart root, and vice-versa.
The inverse of a number or other element (rather than an operation / function) means whatever number would form the inverse if you use it with whatever binary operation you're talking about. So the additive inverse of 3 is –3, the inverse of "rotate clockwise 90 degrees" in the group of geometric operations is "rotate anticlockwise 90 degrees", and the multiplicative inverse of 3 is 1/3.
Saying "the inverse of 3" to mean 1/3, i.e. its multiplicative inverse, is sloppy but acceptable so long as everyone knows what you mean (and it's fairly common). Saying "the inverse square root" to mean 1/square root is just wrong.
- sunk1st 2y agoIs it acceptable to use the imperative? That is, to say: “Now, invert the element”. Or should it always be, “take the inverse of …”?