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Level 5-6 Numbers - Negatives - Multiplication and Division

Multiply and divide with negative numbers confidently. Learn the rules, use sign patterns, and check by estimation so your answers make sense.

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Fascinating Fact:

Reversing a negative trend turns it positive, if profit drops by −2 each month for −6 months, (−2) × (−6) = 12, meaning a gain overall.

In KS3 Maths, you practise multiplying and dividing with negative numbers. Using the sign rules helps you predict whether the answer is positive or negative and avoid common mistakes.

Key Terms

Negative integer: A whole number less than zero, written with a minus sign (e.g., −4).
Product: The result of multiplying numbers together.
Sign rule: A pattern that tells you whether an answer is positive or negative in multiplication or division.

Frequently Asked Questions (Click to see answers)

What is a negative times a negative?

A negative multiplied by a negative gives a positive. For example, (−3) × (−5) = 15 because the two minus signs make a plus.

How do you divide negative numbers in KS3?

Divide the numbers as usual and apply the sign rule: same signs give a positive answer, different signs give a negative answer. Example: (−20) ÷ 4 = −5.

What is the sign rule for multiplication and division of integers?

Same signs (positive with positive or negative with negative) give a positive result. Different signs (one positive, one negative) give a negative result.

Try These Related Quizzes

1 .

What is (-88 ÷ 11) ÷ -2?

-16

-88 ÷ 11 = -8 and -8 ÷ -2 = 4

2 .

What is -84 / -3?

-28

252

A negative ÷ a negative = a positive

3 .

Which negative number do you need to times by itself to equal 81?

-3

-5

-7

-9

9 would also work but that wasn't on the list of answers!

4 .

What is -20 / 4?

-16

-12

-6

-5

Most calculators have a '+/-' button which gives a negative number

5 .

What is -2 x -5 x 17?

-170

170

350

It gets a little more complicated when there are more than two numbers involved!

6 .

What is -43 / 5?

-8.6

-4.3

-2

One negative and one positive number equals a negative result

7 .

What is -21 x -6?

-216

-126

126

216

BOTH numbers are negative, therefore the result will be positive

8 .

What is -4 x -4 x -4

-64

-12

Note that although the first two negative signs become positive (-4 x -4 = 16), when multiplied by the third negative sign the result will be negative

9 .

What is -7 x 8?

-78

-56

A negative x a positive = a negative

10 .

What is (-100 ÷ -10) ÷ -5?

-2

The calculation in brackets is a negative ÷ a negative so the answer will be a positive. We then divide this positive by a negative so the answer will be a negative

You can find more about this topic by visiting BBC Bitesize - How to multiply and divide positive and negative numbers

Author: Frank Evans (Specialist 11 Plus Teacher and Tutor)