Now take a look at division with negative numbers.
8 ÷ 4 = 2
8 ÷ (-4) = -2
3 ÷ 12 = ¼
(-3) ÷ 12 = -¼
When a positive number is divided by a negative number (or vice versa), the result will be negative. Why? Division and multiplication are inverse operations.
So 8 ÷ (-4) is the same as 8 * 1/(-4).
And since 1/(-4) = ¼ * -1, then 8 * 1/(-4) = 8 * ¼ * -1 = -2.
Here’s a problem to think about: What is 12 * 3 ÷ (-8)? Explain your answer in the text box below.