Multiplying Integers and Dividing Integers

What will be the sign for the product when we multiply 2 integers together, for example ( - 2) × (+3)?

When multiplying signed integers, the following rules for signs apply:

Example:

(+2) × (+3) = +6
(+2) × (–3) = –6
(–2) × (+3) = –6
(–2) × (–3) = +6

Recall that any number multiplied by 0 will result in 0.

Example :

4 × 0 = 0
0 × (–103) = 0

Example:

Calculate the following:

a) (–7) × (–2) =
b) 5 × (–3) × (–3) =
c) (–4) × (–3) × (–2) =

Solution:

a) (–7) × (–2) = 14

b) 5 × (–3) × (–3)
= (–15) × (–3)
= 45

c) (–4) × (–3) × (–2)
= 12 × (–2)
= –24

Dividing Integers

When we dividing integers, the similar rules for signs apply:

Example:

(+6) ÷ (+2) = +3
(+6) ÷ (–2) = –3
(–6) ÷ (+2) = –3
(–6) ÷ (–2) = +3

Example:

Calculate the following:

a) (–8) ÷ (–2) =

b) (12) ÷ (–4) =

Solution:

a) (–8) ÷ (–2) = 4

The following video shows more examples of multiplying and dividing negative numbers:

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