Definition: inverse

Source: WordNet (r) 1.7

inverse
     adj 1: inversely related; "1/2 is the inverse of 2"
     2: reversed (turned backward) in order or nature or effect
        [syn: reverse]
     3: (mathematics) varying in a manner opposite to that of
        another quantity; "a term is in inverse proportion to
        another term if it increases (or decreases) as the other
        decreases (or increases) [ant: direct]
     n 1: (math) one of a pair of numbers whose product is 1: the
          reciprocal of 2/3 is 3/2; the inverse of 7 is 1/7 [syn:
          reciprocal]
     2: something inverted in sequence or character or effect; "when
        the direct approach failed he tried the inverse" [syn: opposite]

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Inverse \In*verse"\, a. [L. inversus, p. p. of invertere: cf. F.
   inverse. See Invert.]
   1. Opposite in order, relation, or effect; reversed;
      inverted; reciprocal; -- opposed to direct.

   2. (Bot.) Inverted; having a position or mode of attachment
      the reverse of that which is usual.

   3. (Math.) Opposite in nature and effect; -- said with
      reference to any two operations, which, when both are
      performed in succession upon any quantity, reproduce that
      quantity; as, multiplication is the inverse operation to
      division. The symbol of an inverse operation is the symbol
      of the direct operation with -1 as an index. Thus sin-1 x
      means the arc whose sine is x.

   Inverse figures (Geom.), two figures, such that each point
      of either figure is inverse to a corresponding point in
      the order figure.

   Inverse points (Geom.), two points lying on a line drawn
      from the center of a fixed circle or sphere, and so
      related that the product of their distances from the
      center of the circle or sphere is equal to the square of
      the radius.

   Inverse, or Reciprocal, ratio (Math.), the ratio of the
      reciprocals of two quantities.

   Inverse, or {Reciprocal, proportion, an equality between
      a direct ratio and a reciprocal ratio; thus, 4 : 2 : : 1/3
      : 1/6, or 4 : 2 : : 3 : 6, inversely.

Inverse \In"verse\, n.
   That which is inverse.

         Thus the course of human study is the inverse of the
         course of things in nature.              --Tatham.

Source: The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (2003-OCT-10)

inverse

   <mathematics> Given a function, f : D -> C, a function g : C
   -> D is called a left inverse for f if for all d in D, g (f d)
   = d and a right inverse if, for all c in C, f (g c) = c and an
   inverse if both conditions hold.  Only an injection has a
   left inverse, only a surjection has a right inverse and only
   a bijection has inverses.  The inverse of f is often written
   as f with a -1 superscript.

   (1996-03-12)