PSAT Math : Negative Numbers

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for PSAT Math

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Example Questions

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Example Question #1 : How To Multiply Negative Numbers

Given that  are both integers,  , and , which of the following is correct about the sign of the expression  ?

Possible Answers:

The expression must be negative or zero.

The expression must be positive.

The expression must be negative.

The expression must be positive or zero.

The expression can be positive, negative, or zero.

Correct answer:

The expression must be negative or zero.

Explanation:

If , then we know that  is any number between or equal to  and . Therefore  must be a negative number. 

Also, if , then we know that  is any number between or equal to  and . Therefore  must be a negative number.

Now looking the expression  we can find the sign of each component in the expression.

Since  is negative, we know that a negative number minus another number is still a negative number.

Therefore,  is a negative number.

Since  is between or equal to   and  we can plug in these end values in to determine the sign of .

Therefore,  is either zero or a positive number.

 

Now to find the sign of the expression we look at the product of the two components. The product of a negative number and a positive number is a negative number; the product of a negative number and zero is zero. Therefore, the correct choice is that  is negative or zero.

 

Example Question #231 : Arithmetic

Find the product.

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

When multiplying together two negatives, our value for the product become positive. 

Example Question #2 : How To Multiply Negative Numbers

Find the product.

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Since we have one positive and one negative multiple, the resulting product must be negative. 

Example Question #31 : Integers

If x is a negative integer, what else must be a negative integer?

 

Possible Answers:

x – x

x – (–x)

x² – x

Correct answer:

x – (–x)

Explanation:

By choosing a random negative number, for example: –4, we can input the number into each choice and see if we come out with another negative number.  When we put –4 in for x, we would have –4 – (–(–4)) or –4 – 4, which is –8.  Plugging in the other options gives a positive answer.  You can try other negative numbers, if needed, to confirm this still works. 

 

 

Example Question #1 : Negative Numbers

–7 – 7= x

–7 – (–7) = y

what are x and y, respectively

Possible Answers:

x = –14, y = 14

x = 0, y = 0

x = 14, y = –14

x = –14, y = 0

y = 0, x = 14

Correct answer:

x = –14, y = 0

Explanation:

x: –7 – 7= –7 + –7 = –14

y: –7 – (–7) = –7 + 7 = 0

when subtracting a negative number, turn it into an addition problem

Example Question #31 : Integers

Possible Answers:

5

13

15

2

16

Correct answer:

16

Explanation:

Subtracting a negative number is just like adding its absolute value.

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