Solve Division Problem: 2000 ÷ (-500)

Division Operations with Negative Numbers

Solve the following problem:

2000500= \frac{2000}{-500}=

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Step-by-step written solution

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1

Understand the problem

Solve the following problem:

2000500= \frac{2000}{-500}=

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 -500

We will divide the fraction as follows:

2000:500500:500=41=4 \frac{2000:-500}{-500:-500}=\frac{-4}{1}=-4

3

Final Answer

4 -4

Key Points to Remember

Essential concepts to master this topic
  • Sign Rule: Positive divided by negative always gives negative result
  • Technique: Simplify 2000500 \frac{2000}{-500} by dividing both by 500
  • Check: Verify -4 × (-500) = 2000 matches original numerator ✓

Common Mistakes

Avoid these frequent errors
  • Forgetting the negative sign in the final answer
    Don't ignore the negative sign and write 4 instead of -4! When dividing positive by negative, the result must be negative. Always apply the sign rule: positive ÷ negative = negative.

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 large numbers?

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The size of the numbers doesn't matter - it's all about the signs! Since 2000 is positive and -500 is negative, the rule 'positive ÷ negative = negative' gives us -4.

Can I just divide 2000 by 500 and then add the negative?

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Yes, that's exactly right! Divide the numbers normally: 2000 ÷ 500 = 4, then apply the sign rule to get -4.

How do I remember the division sign rules?

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Think of it like multiplication: same signs give positive, different signs give negative. Since we have positive ÷ negative (different signs), the answer is negative.

What if both numbers were negative?

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If both were negative, like 2000500 \frac{-2000}{-500} , then negative ÷ negative = positive, so the answer would be +4.

Is there a faster way to solve this?

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Yes! Notice that 2000 = 4 × 500, so 2000500=4×500500=4 \frac{2000}{-500} = \frac{4 × 500}{-500} = -4 directly.

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