Negative Numbers - ACT Math

Simply the signs before solving. A positive sign multiplied with a negative sign will convert the sign to a negative, and a negative multiplied with a negative will convert the sign to a positive.

Starting at and adding is the same as subtracting . .

Starting at and adding is the same as subtracting . .

Adding to is the same as subtracting from . .

You simplify the expression to be 1 – 1 + 3 + 4 = 7

Convert all the double signs to a single sign before solving. Remember, two minus (negative) signs combine to form a plus (positive) sign, and a plus (positive) sign and a minus (negative) sign combine to form a minus (negative) sign.

To begin, we need to recall how to subtract negative numbers. Remember, when subtracting a negative number, the two negatives cancel out, creating a positive.

So, this:

Becomes this:

We can combine like terms on the left to get:

Then, we can subtract from both sides in order to get by itself:

In this case, we are subtracting from a negative number, which is just like adding two negative numbers, or subtracting from a positive number. The result will be more negative, because we will be moving further to the left on the number line.

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.

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

The rule for dividing negative numbers is the same as for multiplying negative numbers.

If both numbers are negative, you will get a positive answer.

If either number is positive, and the other is negative, you will get a negative answer.

Therefore:

To solve, first put the equation in terms of :

First multiply the x to both sides.

Now divide by 12 to solve for x.

Here, because one of the numbers in the equation is positive, and the other is negative, the answer must be a negative number:

You simplify the expression to be 1 – 1 + 3 + 4 = 7

Convert all the double signs to a single sign before solving. Remember, two minus (negative) signs combine to form a plus (positive) sign, and a plus (positive) sign and a minus (negative) sign combine to form a minus (negative) sign.

To begin, we need to recall how to subtract negative numbers. Remember, when subtracting a negative number, the two negatives cancel out, creating a positive.

So, this:

Becomes this:

We can combine like terms on the left to get:

Then, we can subtract from both sides in order to get by itself:

In this case, we are subtracting from a negative number, which is just like adding two negative numbers, or subtracting from a positive number. The result will be more negative, because we will be moving further to the left on the number line.

Multiplying a negative number and another negative number makes the product positive.

First, we multiply –4 and 2. A negative and a positive number multiplied together give us a negative number, so (–4)(2) = –8. A negative times a negative is a positive so (–8)(–1) = 8. (8)(–3) = –24.

When multiplying negative numbers, we get a negative answer if there are an odd number of negative numbers being multiplied. We get a positive answer if there are an even number of negative numbers being multiplied.

a3 + b2 becomes (–2)3 + (–3)2 which equals –8 + 9 = 1

When multiplying a negative number an odd number of times, the answer is negative. When multiplying a negative number an even number of times, the answer is positive. Order of operations also applies: Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication and Division, Addition and Subtraction, from left to right. A mnemonic to remember the order of operations is “Please excuse my dear Aunt Sally.”

3(_–2)3 + (–_2)2

= 3(_–_8) + (4)

= _–_24 + 4

= _–_20

Multiplying a negative and a positive number creates a negative product:

A negative number multiplied by a positive number will always be negative.