Wednesday, June 6, 2007

Multiplication and Division

Before we proceed, a review of how to work with addition and subtraction will be useful.

How can we work with multiplication and division?
Listed here are the few simple steps.

1. Identify all terms, multiplication sign and division signs (if any)

Example 1:
7x-2

There are two terms, [+7] and [-2]. There is a multiplication sign [x] between the two terms.

For term [+7] => number is 7, sign is '+'
For term [-2] => number is 2, sign is '-'

2. Compare the two terms besides the multiplication or division sign.

Do the two terms have the same sign?
If SAME :
=> Final sign after multiplication or division is ALWAYS '+'

If DIFFERENT :
=>Final sign after multiplication or division is ALWAYS '-'

3. The final number is the multiplication of the numbers in the two terms.


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Example 1:
7x-2

1. What are the terms, multiplication and division signs identified:
Ans : [+7] [x] [-2]

2. Are the signs of the two terms the same?
Ans : No.

=> Final sign after multiplication is '-'
=> Final number is obtained from multiplying 7 by 2 = 14

Result of 7x-2 = -14
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Example 2:
-5x-8

1. What are the terms, multiplication and division signs identified?
Ans : [-5] [x] [-8]

2. Are the signs of the two terms the same?
Ans : Yes.

=> Final sign after multiplication is '+'
=> Final number is obtained from multiplying 5 by 8 = 40

Result of -5x-8 = +40
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Example 3:
11 x 12

1. What are the terms, multiplication and division signs identified?
Ans : [+11] [x] [+12]

2. Are the signs of the two terms the same?
Ans : Yes.

=> Final sign after multiplication is '+'
=> Final number is obtained from multiplying 11 by 12 = 132

Result of 11 x 12 = +132
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