Any division problem is actually a multiplication problem:

• $6 \div 2 = 3$ because $2 \boldcdot 3 = 6$.
• $6 \div \text- 2 = \text-3$ because $\text-2 \boldcdot \text-3 = 6$.
• $\text-6 \div 2 = \text-3$ because $2 \boldcdot \text-3 = \text-6$.
• $\text-6 \div \text-2 = 3$ because $\text-2 \boldcdot 3 = \text-6$.

Because we know how to multiply signed numbers, that means we know how to divide them.

• A positive number divided by a negative number always results in a negative number.
• A negative number divided by a positive number always results in a negative number.
• A negative number divided by a negative number always results in a positive number.

A number that can be used in place of the variable that makes the equation true is called a solution to the equation. For example, for the equation $x \div \text-2 = 5$, the solution is -10 because it is true that $\text-10 \div \text-2 = 5$.