Most of math involves working with integers: positive and negative numbers and zero. Yet integer operations is an area that some students struggle to understand. By remembering a few rules, you can easily master the basics.
Two short rules is all you need to know to be able to multiply and divide integers and find the sign of the solution.
Rule 1:
If the signs are the same, the answer is positive.
Rule 2:
If the signs are different, the answer is negative.
Let's look at some examples of each rule.
Multiply or divide as indicated. 1. 6(−8) 2. 12(−6) 3. −5(−9) 4. (−4)(−9) 5. −63 ÷(−9) 6. (−5)(−3)(−1)(3)
7. (-35) ÷ (-5)
8. 36 ÷ (− 3) 9. −48 ÷ (−6) 10. 3(−9)
Solutions:
1. -48, 2. -72, 3. 45, 4. 36, 5. 7, 6. -45, 7. 7, 8. -12, 9. 8, 10. -27
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