Multiplying and Dividing with Negative
Numbers
The multiply/divide sign rule:
- If the 2 numbers you are multiplying or dividing
have the SAME
sign ( + , + or - , -) then the result is POSITIVE ( + )
- If the 2 numbers you are multiplying or dividing
have DIFFERENT
signs (+ , - or - , +) then the result is NEGATIVE ( - ).
Here's another way of saying this....
|
Examples:
| |
Multiply |
Divide |
|
| SAME ==> |
-5 x -5 = +25 |
-8/-4 = +2 |
<== SAME |
| DIFFERENT ==> |
-5 x +5 = -25 |
-8/+4 = -2 |
<== DIFFERENT |
| SAME ==> |
+5 x +5 = +25 |
+8/+4 = +2 |
<== SAME |
| DIFFERENT ==> |
+5 x -5 = -25 |
+8/-4 = -2 |
<== DIFFERENT |
|
Sometimes you have to subtract a negative number or add one, like
this:
+ 8 - ( - 4 ) or + 8 + ( - 4 ) <=== Here, you have 2 signs together
If you have 2 signs together,
then you can replace the 2 signs
with 1 sign
using the
multiply/divide rule. |
Examples ===> |
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