How do you divide with negatives?
Understand the Problem
The question is asking about the process of division when dealing with negative numbers. This involves understanding the rules of signs in division, specifically how negative and positive signs interact.
Answer
The answer is $-3$.
Answer for screen readers
The result of dividing a negative number by a positive number is negative. For example, if we divide (-6) by (2), the answer is
$$ -3 $$.
Steps to Solve
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Identify the Numbers Recognize that in division, you will have a negative number divided by a positive number, or a positive number divided by a negative number.
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Apply the Rule of Signs Recall the rule of signs for division:
- A negative number divided by a positive number results in a negative quotient.
- A positive number divided by a negative number also results in a negative quotient.
- Perform the Division Now you can perform the actual division between the absolute values of the numbers. For example, if the numbers are -6 and 2, calculate it like this:
$$ \frac{-6}{2} = -3 $$
- Combine the Results Based on the rule of signs, since you divided a negative by a positive, the result will be negative. Thus, write the final answer as -3.
The result of dividing a negative number by a positive number is negative. For example, if we divide (-6) by (2), the answer is
$$ -3 $$.
More Information
Understanding division with negative numbers helps clarify how to handle signs in various mathematical operations. It's crucial for more advanced topics in mathematics where these rules will be consistently applied.
Tips
- Misapplying the rules of signs: One common mistake is forgetting that the result of dividing a negative by a positive retains the negative sign. Always remember that the rules of signs apply.
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