Final answer:
Negative numbers in mathematics are values less than zero, represented with a minus sign (-) before the number. Operations with negative numbers follow specific rules to determine the sign of the result.
Step-by-step explanation:
Mathematics in Negative Numbers
In mathematics, negative numbers are a part of the number line that represents values less than zero. These numbers are denoted with a minus sign (-) before the number. For example, -2 is a negative number, while 3 is a positive number. When working with negative numbers, it's important to consider their sign and understand how operations such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division work.
Examples:
- If we subtract 7 from -5, we get -12: -5 - 7 = -12
- If we multiply a positive number by a negative number, the result is always negative. For example, -3 × 4 = -12
- When dividing a positive number by a negative number, the quotient is negative. For example, 12 ÷ -4 = -3