

The product of two negative numbers is a positive number.The product of a negative number and a positive number is always a negative number.The sign of the bigger absolute value is placed before the result. The sum of a positive number and a negative number is the difference between the two numbers.The sum of two negative numbers is a negative number.When the basic operations of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division are performed on negative numbers, they follow a certain set of rules. For example, - 2, - 3, - 4, - 5 are called negative numbers. On a number line, negative numbers are shown to the left of zero. For example, -9 3 = -9 × -9 × -9 = -729įAQs on Negative Numbers What are Negative Numbers in Math?Ī negative number is a number whose value is always less than zero and it has a minus (-) sign before it. If a negative integer has an odd number in the exponent, then the final product will always be a negative integer.If a negative integer has an even number in the exponent, then the final product will always be a positive integer.There are two basic rules related to negative integers with exponents: Rule 2: When we divide a negative number by a negative number, the result is always positive.

Rule 1: When we divide a negative number by a positive number, the result is always negative.In other words, when we multiply two negative or two positive numbers, the product is always positive. Rule 2: When the signs of the numbers are the same, the result is positive.In other words, when we multiply a negative number with a positive number, the product is always negative. Rule 1: When the signs of the numbers are different, the result is negative.Multiplying Positive and Negative Numbers There are two basic rules related to the multiplication and division of negative numbers.

Multiplication and Division of Negative Numbers We use the sign of the bigger absolute value that is 12 and the answer is 3. Therefore, we start with -3 and move 1 number to the left, which brings us to -4.Ĭase 3: When we need to subtract a negative number from a negative number, we will follow the rule of subtraction:įor example, -9 - (-12) ⇒ -9 + 12 = 3. Now, if we apply the rule of the number line on -3 + (-1), to add a negative number we move to the left. Therefore, we start with 5 and move 6 numbers to the left, which brings us to -1.Ĭase 2: When we need to subtract a positive number from a negative number, we will follow the same rule of subtraction which says:įor example, -3 - (+1), will become -3 + (-1). Now, if we apply the rule of the number line on 5 + (-6), to add a negative number, we move to the left. Rule of Subtraction: Change the operation from subtraction to addition, and change the sign of the second number that follows.Ĭase 1: When we need to subtract a positive number from a positive number, we follow the subtraction rule given above. We just need to remember a rule which says: The subtraction of negative numbers is similar to addition. We start from -9 and move 5 numbers to the right that brings us to -4. Observe the following number line and apply the rule on -9 + (+5). The number line rule says, " To add a positive number we move to the right on the number line". This can be understood better with the help of a number line. Since we are using the sign of the greater absolute value, the answer is -4. We can see that when we start from -7 and move 4 numbers to the left, it brings us to -11.Ĭase 2: When a positive number is added to a negative number, we find their difference and use the sign of the larger absolute value in the answer. Therefore, observe the following number line, and apply the rule on -7 + (- 4). The number line rule says, " To add a negative number we move to the left on the number line". This can be understood with the help of a number line. In other words, the sum of two negative numbers always results in a negative number. Addition of Negative NumbersĬase 1: When a negative number is added to a negative number, we add the numbers and use the negative sign in the answer. For adding and subtracting negative numbers, we need to remember the following rules.
