All GRE Math Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #5 : Negative Numbers
Find the value of .
To solve for , divide each side of the equation by -2.
is the same as
which is POSITIVE
Example Question #1 : How To Divide Negative Numbers
What is ?
45
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.
Example Question #1 : Negative Numbers
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
Example Question #5 : Negative Numbers
Solve for :
To solve this equation, you need to isolate the variable on one side. We can accomplish this by dividing by on both sides:
Anytime you divide, if the signs are the same (i.e. two positive, or two negative), you'll get a positive result. If the signs are opposites (i.e. one positive, one negative) then you get a negative.
Both of the numbers here are negative, so we will have a positive result:
Example Question #221 : Operations And Properties
Solve for :
To solve, you need to isolate the variable. We first subtract then divide by :
When dividing, if the signs of the numbers are the same (i.e. both positive, or both negative), you yield a positive result. If the signs of the numbers are opposites (i.e. one of each), then you yield a negative result.
Therefore: