How to divide negative numbers - ACT Math
Card 0 of 4
What is 
?
What is
A negative number divided by a negative number always results in a positive number. 
divided by 
equals 
. Since the answer is positive, the answer cannot be 
or any other negative number.
A negative number divided by a negative number always results in a positive number.
Compare your answer with the correct one above
Solve for 
:
Solve for
Begin by isolating your variable.
Subtract 
from both sides:
, or 
Next, subtract 
from both sides:
, or 
Then, divide both sides by 
:
Recall that division of a negative by a negative gives you a positive, therefore:
or 
Begin by isolating your variable.
Subtract
Next, subtract
Then, divide both sides by
Recall that division of a negative by a negative gives you a positive, therefore:
Compare your answer with the correct one above
Solve the following equation:
Solve the following equation:
The rule for dividing negative numbers is the same as for multiplying negative numbers.
If both numbers are negative, you will get a positive answer.
If either number is positive, and the other is negative, you will get a negative answer.
Therefore:
The rule for dividing negative numbers is the same as for multiplying negative numbers.
If both numbers are negative, you will get a positive answer.
If either number is positive, and the other is negative, you will get a negative answer.
Therefore:
Compare your answer with the correct one above
Choose the answer which best solves the following equation:
Choose the answer which best solves the following equation:
To solve, first put the equation in terms of 
:
First multiply the x to both sides.
Now divide by 12 to solve for x.
Here, because one of the numbers in the equation is positive, and the other is negative, the answer must be a negative number:
To solve, first put the equation in terms of
First multiply the x to both sides.
Now divide by 12 to solve for x.
Here, because one of the numbers in the equation is positive, and the other is negative, the answer must be a negative number:
Compare your answer with the correct one above