Algebra I Recipe: Multiplication and Division of Real Numbers
By G Redden
A. Multiplying and Dividing Two Real Numbers
1. Multiply or divide their absolute values.
2. The answer is positive if both signs are the same.
3. The answer is negative if both signs are different.
1.
(-2/5) • -15
2.
(-6)(3)
3.
–1 • -9
4.
12(-x)
5.
–216/12
6.
126/-9
7.
–51/-3
8.
–48/-9
B. Multiplying More Than Two Real Numbers
1. Multiply all of their absolute values.
2. Answer is positive if there is an even number of negatives.
3. Answer is negative if there is an odd number of negatives.
9.
–4 • -2 • -6
10.
(-5)(-2)(-6)(-3)
11.
(-n)(n)
12.
–x4 (-x)(-x)
13.
(-4)4
14.
(-5)3
C. Dividing by a Fraction
1. Change division to multiplication.
2. Change the fraction being divided by to its reciprocal. 2/3 is the reciprocal of 3/2 AND -7/4 is the reciprocal of –4/7.
3. Go back to the multiplication steps.
15.
–5 ÷ (2/3)
16.
(-4/5) ÷ (-3/10)
