Mark Zegarelli - Basic Math & Pre-Algebra All-in-One For Dummies (+ Chapter Quizzes Online)

If the numbers have the same sign, the result is always positive.

If the numbers have opposite signs, the result is always negative.

For example,

As you can see, the numerical portion of the answer is always 6. The only question is whether the complete answer is 6 or −6. That’s where the rule of same or opposite signs comes in.

Another way of thinking of this rule is that the two negatives cancel each other out to make a positive.

Similarly, look at these four division equations:

In this case, the numerical portion of the answer is always 5. When the signs are the same, the result is positive, and when the signs are different, the result is negative.

Q.Solve the following four multiplication problems:

A.As you can see from this example, the numerical part of the answer (30) doesn’t change. Only the sign of the answer changes, depending on the signs of the two numbers in the problem.

Q.Solve the following four division problems:

A.The numerical part of the answer (6) doesn’t change. Only the sign of the answer changes, depending on the signs of the two numbers in the problem.

Q.What is

A. −1,764.First, drop the signs and multiply:

The numbers −84 and 21 have different signs, so the answer is negative:

Q.What is

A. 29.Drop the signs and divide:

The numbers have the same signs, so the answer is positive: .

9 Solve the following multiplication problems:

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

10 Solve the following division problems:

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

11

12

13

14

1

(a)

(b)