Chapter 0, Problem 11POT

To determine

To calculate: The quotient of

  $-120÷8$ .

Answer to Problem 11POT

The quotientis $-15$ .

Explanation of Solution

Given information:

The given fraction is:

  $-120÷8$ .

Formula used:

Division in real numbers is multiplication by reciprocal. If $b\ne 0$ , then,

  $\begin{array}{c}a÷b=a\left(\frac{1}{b}\right)\\ =\frac{a}{b}\end{array}$

Here, $\frac{1}{b}$ is the multiplicative inverse.

Calculation:

In the fraction

  $-120÷8$

Two numbers having different signs so quotient is negative.

Given division is represented as multiplication by reciprocal

  $\begin{array}{c}-120÷8=-120(\frac{1}{8})\\ =\frac{-8\times 15}{8}\end{array}$

Numerator and denominator have common factor $8$ .

By canceling common factor,

  $-120÷8=-15$

Thus, the value of quotientis $-15$ .