Multiplication and Division with Negative Numbers Help

Introduction to Multiplying and Dividing Negative Numbers

When taking the product of two or more quantities when one or more of them is negative, take the product as you ordinarily would as if the negative signs were not there. Count the number of negatives in the product. An even number of negative signs will yield a positive product and an odd number of negative signs will yield a negative product. Similarly, for a quotient (or fraction), two negatives yield a positive quotient and one negative and one positive yield a negative quotient.

Examples

Find practice problems and solutions at Multiplication and Division with Negative Numbers Practice Problems- Set 1.

Multiplying Negative Numbers with Variables

Negating a variable does not automatically mean that the quantity will be negative: –x means “the opposite” of x . We cannot conclude that –x is a negative number unless we have reason to believe x itself is a positive number. If x is a negative number, –x is a positive number. (Although in practice we verbally say “negative x ” for “–x” when we really mean “the opposite of x .”)

The same rules apply when multiplying “negative” variables.

Examples

Find practice problems and solutions at Multiplication and Division with Negative Numbers Practice Problems- Set 2.

Dividng Negative Numbers with Variables

Because a negative divided by a positive is negative and a positive divided by a negative is negative, a negative sign in a fraction can go wherever you want to put it.

Examples

Find practice problems and solutions at Multiplication and Division with Negative Numbers Practice Problems- Set 3.

More practice problems for this concept can be found at: Algebra Negative Numbers Practice Test.