Basic Multiplication and Division With Negatives

Objective

Know how to multiply and divide small negative numbers

Example

2 x (-3) =

Answer: -6

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Explanation

Multiplying and dividing with negatives is simple. Simply multiply or divide as you would without any negatives, then decide whether or not your answer will be positive or negative

+ and + become +

2 x 3 = 6

+ and - become -

2 x (-3) = -6

- and + become -

-2 x 3 = -6

- and - become +

-2 x (-3) = 6

[Notice that these rules may look the same as with addition and subtraction, but it's very different. For addition and subtraction, these rules decided on which sign would go between the two numbers. For multiplication and division, these rules decide which sign would go on your answer]

To watch a Khan Academy Video, click here.

To watch a Khan Academy Video on how the rules came into being, click here.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Practice your skills