Solve the Fraction -96/48: Basic Division Practice

Q: Why is the answer negative when I'm dividing by a positive number?

Because you have a negative numerator (-96) divided by a positive denominator (48). The rule is: negative ÷ positive = negative. Think of it as -96 ÷ 48 = -2.

Q: How do I find the greatest common divisor quickly?

Look for the smaller number first! Since 48 is smaller, check if 96 is divisible by 48. In this case: 96 ÷ 48 = 2, so 48 is the GCD.

Q: Can I just divide 96 by 48 and add the negative sign later?

Yes, that works! Calculate 96 ÷ 48 = 2, then apply the negative sign to get -2. Just don't forget that final step!

Q: What if the denominator was negative instead?

If you had $ \frac{96}{-48} $, the answer would still be -2! Remember: positive ÷ negative = negative, just like negative ÷ positive = negative.

Q: How can I check my answer without a calculator?

Multiply your answer by the denominator: -2 × 48 = -96. If you get the original numerator, you're correct!

Fraction Division with Negative Numbers

Solve the following problem:

$\frac{-96}{48}=$

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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:

$\frac{-96}{48}=$

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, that number is 48

We will divide the fraction as follows:

$\frac{-96:48}{48:48}=\frac{-2}{1}=-2$

Final Answer

$-2$

Key Points to Remember

Essential concepts to master this topic

Sign Rule: Negative divided by positive always gives negative result
Technique: Find GCD first: both -96 and 48 divide by 48
Check: Verify -2 × 48 = -96, so $\frac{-96}{48} = -2$ ✓

Common Mistakes

Avoid these frequent errors

Forgetting the negative sign in the final answer
Don't simplify $\frac{-96}{48}$ to just 2 = wrong sign! The negative in the numerator must stay with your answer. Always keep track of the negative sign throughout your calculations.

Practice Quiz

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Write the fraction shown in the diagram as a number:

FAQ

Everything you need to know about this question

Why is the answer negative when I'm dividing by a positive number?

Because you have a negative numerator (-96) divided by a positive denominator (48). The rule is: negative ÷ positive = negative. Think of it as -96 ÷ 48 = -2.

How do I find the greatest common divisor quickly?

Look for the smaller number first! Since 48 is smaller, check if 96 is divisible by 48. In this case: 96 ÷ 48 = 2, so 48 is the GCD.

Can I just divide 96 by 48 and add the negative sign later?

Yes, that works! Calculate 96 ÷ 48 = 2, then apply the negative sign to get -2. Just don't forget that final step!

What if the denominator was negative instead?

If you had $\frac{96}{-48}$ , the answer would still be -2! Remember: positive ÷ negative = negative, just like negative ÷ positive = negative.

How can I check my answer without a calculator?

Multiply your answer by the denominator: -2 × 48 = -96. If you get the original numerator, you're correct!

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