The term "inverse" refers to something that is opposite or reversed in relation to another object or concept. In mathematics, for example, the inverse of a number is what you multiply it by to get one. For instance, the inverse of 5 is 1/5, since 5 multiplied by 1/5 equals 1. In broader contexts, "inverse" can describe relationships where one element's increase leads to another's decrease. For example, in physics, the inverse square law states that the intensity of light from a source decreases with the square of the distance from that source, illustrating an inverse relationship between distance and intensity.