The Inverse Name Game

For many students, mathematics is anything but coherent, and textbooks often do not make connections among concepts. Mathematics teachers must teach more than what is in the text in order to help students see and understand the big picture. Doing so will also help students recognize the concept and apply it in contexts outside of mathematics. The exploration of the concept of inverse is of value because it helps students defend, refine, or reinforce their personal ideas about what inverse is or does. Exploration of the inverse also models for students that in mathematics one looks for patterns, asks questions, and reasons the way toward solutions. (Contains 5 figures.)