Division of Negative Numbers
Remember from basic math that to prove a division problem you multiplied the answer by the divisor and if the answer equaled the number being divided you had done the problem correctly.
example 16 ÷ 2 = 8 proof 8 x 2 = 16 hence you have the correct answer. We will use this concept to explain division of negative numbers.
- 12 ÷ 3 = -4 A positive 3 x (-4) = a negative number in this case -12. In other words the sign of the answer times the sign of the divisor must give you the sign of the number being divided.
Lets try some problems: 1. 12 ÷ (-3) = -4 The answer (-4) multiplied by the divisor (-3) gives us the sign of the number being divided. 2. -12 ÷ (-3) = 4
If you learn the rules for multiplying negative numbers then you will not have to learn the following rules for dividing negative numbers.
Rules for dividing negative numbers: 1. A negative number divide by a positive number must have an answer that is negative. 2. A positive number divide by a negative number must have an answer that is negative. 3. A negative number divide by a negative number must have an answer that is positive. 4. A positive number divided by a positive number must give an answer that is positive.
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