Noun & Adj. (Click on the speech icon to hear the pronunciation of the word \ri-ˈsi-prə-kəl\
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Nouns:
o something (a term or expression or concept) that has a reciprocal relation to
something else
 a relation of mutual dependence or action or influence
 Usage: “Risk is the reciprocal of safety.”
o (mathematics) one of a pair of numbers whose product is 1: the reciprocal of 2/3
is 3/2; the multiplicative inverse of 7 is 1/7
 Syn: multiplicative inverse
 Something inverted in sequence or character or effect
o hybridization involving a pair of crosses that reverse the sexes associated with
each genotype
 Syn: reciprocal cross
 genetics, hybridization
Adjectives:
o concerning each of two or more persons or things; especially given or done in
return
 Usage:
 Reciprocal aid, reciprocal trade, Reciprocal privileges
 Syn: mutual, bilateral, correlative
o of or relating to the multiplicative inverse of a quantity or function
 Usage: “The reciprocal ratio of a:b is b:a”
 Syn: inverse
Reciprocal describes something that's the same on both sides. If you and your
sister are in a big fight on a long car trip, you might resolve it through a
reciprocal agreement that you'll stop poking her and she'll stop reading road
signs out loud.
The word mutual is a near synonym in most uses: reciprocal/mutual friendship, describing, a
relationship in which two people feel the same way about each other, or do or give similar things to
each other. If you tell someone you like them and they say, "The feelings are reciprocal," that means
they like you too. In math, a reciprocal is a number that when multiplied by a given number gives one
as a product.
Other forms: reciprocate, reciprocity, reciprocality, reciprocally, reciprocative, reciprocatory
Usage:
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In fact, many sites make reciprocal linking a requirement before they will accept a link from
your own site.
At each stage the chairman has discretion to allow reciprocal questioning by the various
parties.
Reciprocal medical agreement with the UK.
The children in the host school then reciprocate the same.
She smiles at her secretary who never reciprocates a greeting or farewell verbally except
with clients.
An example of a reciprocal is an arrangement where Jim gives Al his apple and Al gives Jim his
pear.
An example of reciprocal is when someone gives you a gift because you give them one.
DIRECTIONS: Discuss the meaning of the word with your students, with special emphasis on any
variations or nuances of the word specific to your discipline. Consider taking it a step further by using
one or all of the following ideas as you involve students with the new vocabulary. Remember to
preview all content you intend to share with students. Not all items on the lists provided
below are appropriate for all classes or age levels.
#1 Consider discussing these applications of the word reciprocal as they apply to your
discipline:
 Math: The Reciprocal Lattice in Crystallography
 Science, Sports Medicine: Muscle Activation and Inhibition: therapeutic use of
reciprocal inhibition is presented to improve stretch therapies
 Science, Psychology: Your Brain Has Two Clocks
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English teachers: Consider taking a few moments to do a mini-lesson reviewing
reciprocal pronouns with your students. http://www.k12reader.com/reciprocalpronouns/
 Math teachers: Reciprocal Fractions
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Math teachers: Graphing reciprocal functions:
More > > >
#2
Read this article from 16 January 2014 in The BBC News. It is entitled “JK Rowling and Films
Dominate Children's Book List,” and the word reciprocal is used in the last sentence. This article
discusses books that have been made into movies and the link, or plausible link, between film and
literacy. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-25745225
Consider starting this discussion by using a Quad Cluster WTL strategy—three could be books that have been made into
movies and the fourth a movie that was not previously a book. See if students can pick out the difference for
themselves, and then read the article and discuss.
#3 Read the January 10, 2014 article entitled “World Cup Fans May Soon See Relief from Pricey
Brazil Airfare” from Rueters. The article discusses plans to keep the Brazilian airports from becoming
overwhelmed with travelers during the World Cup this year. In the second paragraph of the “Foreign
Help Unlikely” section of the article, Haynes and Boadle state that “Australia and Chile are among the
few nations that allow foreign-owned airlines to operate domestic flights without a reciprocal
relationship from another country.” http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/01/10/us-brazil-worldcuptravel-idUSBREA090TG20140110?feedType=RSS&feedName=sportsNews
#4 Read this December 27th, 2013 article from Reuters about U.S. relations with India. The article
details how “India has sought details about staff in American schools in the country for possible tax
violations and revoked ID cards of U.S. consular officials and their families, retaliatory steps for the
arrest of an Indian diplomat in New York.” In the tenth paragraph, an Indian government official is
quoted as saying, "We have said all access is on a reciprocal basis . . . she is not going to get the
benefits that the Indian ambassador in the U.S. doesn't get." Consider using the Focused Free Write
WTL strategy to begin or conclude a discussion around this article. What do students know about
India, our relations with India, or about privileges of ambassadors?
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/12/27/us-india-usaidUSBRE9BQ07120131227?feedType=RSS&feedName=topNews
#5 A great blog to discuss inspiration, goals, and potential. “From Evaluation to Inspiration” by
Scott Barry Kaufman was written on January 8, 2014 and published in The Scientific American. The
article focuses on the idea that “In a culture obsessed with measuring talent, ability, and potential, we
often overlook the important role of inspiration in enabling potential.” In the paragraph beginning
“Inspiration facilitates progress toward goals,” Kaufman states that “the relationship between
inspiration and goal progress was reciprocal: goal progress also predicted future goal inspiration.
http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/beautiful-minds/2014/01/08/from-evaluation-to-inspiration/
#6 Here is an article from Business Week (Sept. 27, 2013) that students might find relevant and
interesting, especially those who have watched the television show referred to in the title: “What
Breaking Bad Can Teach Us About Business Relationships.” In the last paragraph the author states, “.
. . sponsors and protégés everywhere should take note of the win-win dynamic for both parties in this
reciprocal relationship.”
http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-09-27/what-breaking-bad-can-teach-us-about-business-relationships#r=rss
#7 In this July 8th, 2013 article from The Guardian, “Dany Louise reflects on the Contemporary Visual Arts
Network's knowledge sharing event at Google's London office.” It might be an
interesting article to discuss with students in business or in your seminars—what
jobs and talents are required for future jobs, and what might the workplace look
like? The word reciprocal is used in the last paragraph, and a previous WOW
(juxtaposition) is used in the first paragraph.
http://www.theguardian.com/culture-professionals-network/cultureprofessionals-blog/2013/jul/08/visual-arts-google-knowledge-sharing
#8 Art: “Reciprocal”
Here is a new wood piece made for a Miami group show at Snitzer
Gallery. It is based on the idea of a reciprocal -how a multiplicative
inverse of 2 can become 1.
More > > >
#9
#10 Music: Enduser & Hecq – “Reciprocal”
Reciprocal is a track off of Enduser's album, Even Weight, and featuring the talents of
Hecq. Make sure to play audio only or show the graphic full screen because
inappropriate language is used in many of the comments listed below the clip.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDQZPjphmyA
#11 P.E./Sports, Check out what this article has to say about Reciprocal Coaching: “How do you
coach?” Discuss with your students/players. What do you, and they, agree with and not agree with?
http://www.ausport.gov.au/sportscoachmag/coaching_processes/how_do_you_coach
#12 Art, Architecture, Business, Math
“Tony Wrench is a master of the reciprocal frame roof for round houses. His
roundhouse in West Wales was built without planning permission for just
£3,000. He wanted to give an example of how an affordable home can be built,
but the planners asked him to take it down. He resisted for many years and now,
after helping to advise on the new sustainable planning laws for Wales, a picture
of Tony's house graces the front of the Planning Guidelines for Sustainable
Development. Result!
He gets so many requests for help with building, he wants you to have a clear
"how-to". So here it is. How to build a reciprocal frame roof. Or reciframe.”
http://livinginthefuture.org/episodes/43-reciprocal-frame-roof-tony-wrench.php
#13 Art Reciprocal Accords (Accord
Réciproque), 1942
Wassily Kandinsky (Russian, 1866-1944)
Oil and lacquer on canvas. 44 7/8 x 57 7/16 in. (114 x
146 cm).