Section 1.3: Multiplication and division with signed numbers Chapter 1: Introduction to Algebra
Multiplication with negative numbers
• When you multiply two integers with the same signs, the result is always positive. Just
multiply the absolute values and make the answer positive.
𝑃𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑥 𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 = 𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 3 𝑥 2 = 6
𝑁𝑒𝑔𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑥 𝑛𝑒𝑔𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 = 𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 (−3)(−2) = 6
• When you multiply two integers with different signs, the result is always negative. Just
multiply the absolute values and make the answer negative.
𝑃𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑥 𝑛𝑒𝑔𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 = 𝑛𝑒𝑔𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 (3)(−2) = −6
𝑁𝑒𝑔𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑥 𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 = 𝑛𝑒𝑔𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 (−3)(2) = −6
Division with negative numbers
• When you divide two integers with the same sign, the result is always positive. Just divide the
absolute values and make the answer positive.
𝑃𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 ÷ 𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 = 𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 8 ÷ 4 = 2 𝑜𝑟 8
4= 2
𝑁𝑒𝑔𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 ÷ 𝑛𝑒𝑔𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 = 𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 (−8)÷(−2)= 4 𝑜𝑟 −8
−2 = 4
• When you divide two integers with different signs, the result is always negative. Just divide
the absolute values and make the answer negative.
𝑃𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 ÷ 𝑛𝑒𝑔𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 = 𝑛𝑒𝑔𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 8 ÷ (−4)= −2 𝑜𝑟 8
−4 = −2
𝑁𝑒𝑔𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 ÷ 𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 = 𝑛𝑒𝑔𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 (−8)÷ 4 = −2 𝑜𝑟 −8
4= −2
