−1 (number)

−1
−1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 → List of numbers -- Integers (whole numbers) 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 >>
Cardinal	−1, minus one, negative one
Arabic	−١
Chinese numeral	负一，负弌，负壹
Bengali	ô১
Binary (byte)	S&M: 2sC: 1000000012 111111112
Hex (byte)	S&M: 2sC: 0x1018 0xFF8

In mathematics, −1 is the additive inverse of 1. That is, if it is added to 1, the result is 0. It is the negative integer greater than negative two (−2) and less than 0.

Negative one has some similar properties as positive one. But some are different.

Negative one is related to Euler's identity. This is because the identity states [math]e^{i \pi} = -1.\![/math]

In computer science, −1 is a common initial value for integers. It is also used to show that a variable has no useful information.

Algebraic properties

Multiplying a number by −1 is the same as changing the sign on the number. This can be proved using the distributive law and the axiom at 1 is the multiplicative identity, that is, a number multiplied by 1 is the number itself. So, for x real, we have

[math]x+(-1)\cdot x=1\cdot x+(-1)\cdot x=(1+(-1))\cdot x=0 \cdot x=0[/math]

where we used the fact that 0 multiplied by any real number x equals 0, shown by cancellation from the equation

[math]0\cdot x=(0+0)\cdot x=0\cdot x+0\cdot x \, [/math]

0, 1, −1, i, and −i in the complex or cartesian plane

In other words,

[math]x+(-1)\cdot x=0 \, [/math]

so (−1) · x or −x is the arithmetic inverse of x.

Square of −1

The square of −1, i.e. −1 multiplied by −1, equals 1. So, a square of negative real numbers is positive.

To prove this with algebra, start with the equation

[math]0 =-1\cdot 0 =-1\cdot [1+(-1)][/math]

The first equality follows from the above result. The second follows from the definition of −1 as additive inverse of 1, that is, when added to 1, it gives 0. Now, using the distributive law, we see that

[math]0 =-1\cdot [1+(-1)]=-1\cdot1+(-1)\cdot(-1)=-1+(-1)\cdot(-1)[/math]

The second equality follows from the fact that 1 is a multiplicative identity, that is : [math]x\cdot 1=x \, [/math]. But now adding 1 to both sides of this last equation means

[math](-1) \cdot (-1) = 1[/math]

The above arguments hold in any ring. Ring is a concept of abstract algebra generalizing integers and real numbers.

Square roots of −1

The complex number i satisfies i² = −1. So it is a square root of −1. The only other complex number x for which the equation x² = −1 holds is −i. In the algebra of quaternions, which has the complex plane, the equation x² = −1 has an infinity of solutions.

Exponentiation to negative integers

A non-zero real number can have a negative number as its power. We define that x⁻¹ = 1/x. This means a number raised to a power of −1 is equal to the reciprocal of that number. The exponential law x^ax^b = x^{(a + b)} for a,b non-zero real numbers is true even if a or b is negative.

Computer representation

There are many ways that −1 (and negative numbers in general) can be represented in computer systems. The most common is as two's complement of their positive form. In standard binary representation, this can also represent a positive integer.