[Maths-Education] Why is reciprocal called 'reciprocal'?

[John Bibby]

NB: Please reply to qed@enterprise.net even if you respond to list, as some
of my list-messages go astray.

Q from an 11-year-old: Why are reciprocals so-called?

(I know that they have the 'mutual' property of reciprocality - but then do
so many things.)

Can anyone tell me what they are called in French/German/other languages?
Sometimes that can help with questions such as this.

             Thank you and Best regards

              JOHN BIBBY  (Director, Count On/MatheMagic)
                    1 Straylands Grove
                    York YO31 1EB

Tel: (+44) 01904-424242 office, 01904-424200 (home and direct line)
Fax: 01904-424381
e: qed@enterprise.net, john.bibby@counton.org

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