Solve Division Problem: 10 Divided by Negative 2

Q: Why is the answer negative when I'm dividing 10 by 2?

The answer is negative because you're dividing by negative 2, not positive 2! When a positive number is divided by a negative number, the result is always negative.

Q: How do I remember the sign rules for division?

Think of it like this: same signs = positive, different signs = negative. Since 10 is positive and -2 is negative (different signs), your answer will be negative.

Q: Can I check my answer by working backwards?

Absolutely! Use multiplication to check: $ (-5) \times (-2) = 10 $. If you get back to your original dividend (10), your answer is correct!

Q: Is there a shortcut for these problems?

Yes! Ignore the signs first, do the division with just the numbers (10 ÷ 2 = 5), then apply the sign rule at the end. This prevents confusion!

Division Operations with Negative Numbers

Solve the following problem:

$\frac{10}{-2}=$

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Step-by-step written solution

Follow each step carefully to understand the complete solution

Understand the problem

Solve the following problem:

$\frac{10}{-2}=$

Step-by-step solution

Remember that we are dividing a positive number by a negative number, so the result must be a negative number.

We will divide both the numerator and the denominator by the highest number that both are divisible by.

In this case, the number is -2

We will divide the fraction as follows:

$\frac{10:-2}{-2:-2}=\frac{-5}{1}=-5$

Final Answer

$-5$

Key Points to Remember

Essential concepts to master this topic

Sign Rule: Positive divided by negative always gives negative result
Technique: Divide absolute values first: 10 ÷ 2 = 5, then apply negative sign
Check: Verify by multiplication: (-5) × (-2) = 10 ✓

Common Mistakes

Avoid these frequent errors

Forgetting to apply the negative sign to the result
Don't just divide 10 ÷ 2 = 5 and forget the sign rules! This gives a positive answer when it should be negative. Always remember: positive ÷ negative = negative, so the final answer must be -5.

Practice Quiz

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Write the fraction shown in the picture, in words:

FAQ

Everything you need to know about this question

Why is the answer negative when I'm dividing 10 by 2?

The answer is negative because you're dividing by negative 2, not positive 2! When a positive number is divided by a negative number, the result is always negative.

How do I remember the sign rules for division?

Think of it like this: same signs = positive, different signs = negative. Since 10 is positive and -2 is negative (different signs), your answer will be negative.

Can I check my answer by working backwards?

Absolutely! Use multiplication to check: $(-5) \times (-2) = 10$ . If you get back to your original dividend (10), your answer is correct!

What if both numbers were negative?

If both the dividend and divisor are negative, the answer would be positive! For example: $\frac{-10}{-2} = 5$ because negative ÷ negative = positive.

Is there a shortcut for these problems?

Yes! Ignore the signs first, do the division with just the numbers (10 ÷ 2 = 5), then apply the sign rule at the end. This prevents confusion!

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