Positive and Negative Numbers

Multiplication and Division

Rules of multiplying and dividing numbers:

1. If there are an even number of negative numbers, like 2 or 4, being multiplied or divided, then the product or quotient is postive.Ex. -A x -B = AB000000000000000 Ex. -A/-B = A/B
2. If there are an even number of postive numbers being multiplied or divided, then the product or quotient is postive. Ex. A x B = AB 000000000000000000000 Ex. A/B = A/B
3. If there is an odd number of negative numbers, like 1 or 3, then the product if multiplied or quotient if divided is negative. Ex. A x -B = -AB 000000 Ex. A/-B = -A/B
4. If multiplying anything by one, the product does not change. Ex. A x 1 = A,Ex. A x B x 1 = AB
5. If dividing anything by one, the quotient is equal to the number that is divided. Ex. B/1 = B
6. If multiplying anything by zero, the answer is zero.
7. If dividing anything by zero, the answer is no solution. Ex. B/0 = No Solution.

Examples:

1. 8/0 = No Solution; A number is being divided by zero.
2. 9/1 = 9 ; A number is being divided by one.
3. 5 x 5 = 25 ; An even number of postive numbers, 2, when multiplied, gives a postive answer.
4. 3 x -5 = -15 ; An odd number of negative numbers, 1, when multiplied, gives a negative answer.
5. 3 x 4 x 1 x -2 = -24 ; The answer is negative because there is an odd number of negative answers and the answer is found by multiplying 3 x 4 x 2, because the 1 doesn't change the answer.