When multiplying and dividing numbers, follow the rule of signs: the result of dividing or multiplying numbers with different signs is negative, and the same signs — positive. (-а) × (-b) = a × b.

Let’s say a husband and a wife have debts. Each of them is $100 in debt. What’s the debt in total? You need to add both debts: (-100) + (-100). Or you can multiply 1 debt by 2: (-100) × 2. As a result, you get -$200.

If you need to put a number into a negative power, reverse the expression by writing it down as a fraction with 1 in the numerator and the starting number in the denominator. Replace the number of the power with a positive number and do this: a⁻ⁿ = 1/aⁿ.

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