If the inductance can't be changed and we increase the
frequency the inductive reactance will
increase if the equation is to remain =.
If the capacitance can't be changed and we increase the
frequency the capacitive reactance will
decrease if the equation is to remain
=.
Why not call it Inductive Resistance and Capacitive Resistance? Well, there is a reason. If you put a voltage across a resistor then watts of heat will be generated. Kilowatt hours can be converted to things like horsepower or BTU hours of heat from a furnace. A voltage across a perfect reactance won't make heat. There is almost always some energy lost or removed from a circuit which = resistance. In an alternating current circuit an increase in impedance will reduce the electrical current just as an increase in resistance. Only the portion of the impedance that is resistive can produce heat or work.