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Multiplying and Dividing with Negatives

Multiplying with Negatives

There's a simple rule here:

• (positive) × (positive) = (positive)
• (positive) × (negative) = (negative)
• (negative) × (positive) = (negative)
• (negative) × (negative) = (positive)

Important Thing To Notice:

Since a positive times a positive is positive, and a negative times a negative is also positive, it follows that any number times itself is either zero or positive.

• (12)(12) = 144
• (–12)(–12) = 144

Dividing with Negatives

The same rule works with division:

• (positive) ÷ (positive) = (positive)
• (positive) ÷ (negative) = (negative)
• (negative) ÷ (positive) = (negative)
• (negative) ÷ (negative) = (positive)