Hello!
a. 48 ? (-8) = (-6) - division
To solve this exercise, let's think from right to left:
What operation between (-6) and (-8) results in 48?
When we do (-6) * (-8) we obtain 48, right?
As we are doing it in reverse, the opposite operation will be division, look:
48 ÷ (-8) = -6
b. (-40) ? 8 = (-5) - division
Let's solve it in a similar way: what operation between (-5) and 8 results in 40?
(-5) * 8 = -40
So, (-40) divided by 8 = (-5)
c. 12 ? (-2) = 14 - subtraction
This will be a bit different:
Notice that the difference between these numbers is the middle number. So, let's try another operation now:
12 - (-2) = 14
Attention here: the - sign will invert the value of what is inside the parentheses.
d. 18 ? (-12) = 6 - addition
This is a addition, look:
18 + (-12) = 6
18 - 12 = 6
e. 18 ? (-20) = -2 - addition
Here we have another addition between these numbers:
18 + (-20) = -2
18 - 20 = -2
f. 22 ? (-0.5) = -11 - multiplication
Here, (-0.5) is the same as (-1/2).
When we multiply something by 1/2, the result is half.
So:
22 * (-0.5) = 11