Question #157417

Show that x inverse is not equal to 0 and is unique


Expert's answer

Here we have xx ∈R\in\R (which is invertible).


Now, let a∈Ra\in\R be the multiplicative inverse of xx . So, by definition we get



a⋅x=1R(identity element in R)⇒a⋅x=1⇒x=a−1a\cdot x=1_\R (identity\>element\>in\>\R)\\ \Rightarrow a\cdot x=1\\ \Rightarrow x=a^{-1}

Now, let us assume a=x−1=0a=x^{-1}=0 , so we get

So, we have


x−1=0⇒x=10=undefined in Rx^{-1}=0\\ \Rightarrow x=\frac{1}{0}=undefined \> in \> \R

So, we have a contradiction, which arises from our assumption that a=0a=0 , so we get a≠0a\neq0 .



Now, let us assume b∈Rb\in\R , such that bb is the multiplicative inverse of xx.


So b=x−1b=x^{-1}


But, we already know that a=x−1a=x^{-1} , so


∴a=b=x−1\therefore a =b=x^{-1}


Hence the multiplicative inverse of xx is unique.


LATEST TUTORIALS
APPROVED BY CLIENTS