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Division Of Integers Explained With Rules and Examples

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How to Divide Integers Using Sign Rules Properties and Solved Examples

Mathematicians use addition, subtraction, division, and multiplication to perform arithmetic operations on all various areas of real numbers, including natural numbers, integers, and rational numbers. A division of integers is a process of dividing integers. When an integer is divided, it is usually evenly divided into groups or divided into a specified number of groups. Here, in this article, students will learn about the definition of dividing integers, and about what is the rule for dividing integers. Some examples are also discussed by applying the learning.


Division of Integers

Integer division works by dividing an integer value into equal parts. The division consists of three parts. The value that has been divided into equal groups is called the dividend. The value that divides into equal groups is known as the divisor. Additionally, the answer obtained is called the quotient, which clarifies how many components are divided into equal groups.


Division of Integers


Division of Integers


What are the Rules for Dividing Integers?

Here we have listed some rules that are to follow while dividing integers:


Rules of Division of Integers


Rules of Division of Integers


Rule 1: To divide two numbers with similar signs, we divide their values and add a plus sign to the quotient.

Here, we divide two positive integers that have a positive quotient.

$\dfrac{(+9)}{(+3)}=+3$

Here, we divide two negative integers that have a positive quotient.

$\dfrac{(-9)}{(-3)}=+3$


Rule 2: To divide integers with opposite signs, we, therefore, divide their values and add a minus sign to the quotient.

$\dfrac{(+16)}{(-4)}=-4$


Properties of Division of Integers

By learning the definition of dividing integers, we got to know about the following characteristics of integer division:

  • If $x$ and $y$ are integers, then $x \div y$ is not always an integer. For instance, the numerals $17 \div 3$ and $-19 \div 6$ are not.

  • If $\mathrm{x}$ is an integer other than $0, \mathrm{x} \div \mathrm{x}$ equals 1 .

  • We have $x \div 1=x$ for every integer $x$.

  • If $\mathrm{x}$ is an integer greater than zero, then $0 \div x=0$.

  • If $x$ is an integer, $x \div 0$ has no significance.

  • Unless $z=1$, if $x, y$, and $z$ are non-zero integers, then $(x \div y) \div z \neq x \div(y \div z)$.


Solved Examples of Dividing Integers

Example 1: Solve $-91 \div 7$

Solution: We have, $-91 \div 7$

Using the divisibility rule of 7 i.e. if a number is divisible by 7, then “the difference between twice the unit digit of the given number and the remaining part of the given number should be a multiple of 7 or it should be equal to 0”. So 91 is divisible by 7.

We know that 91 is divisible by 7, as both the numbers have opposite signs, so negative sign will come with the quotient, i.e.

= $\dfrac{-91}{7}$

= -13

Thus, the result of the division of -91 and 7 is -13.


Example 2: Solve $117 \div 3$

Solution: We have $117 \div 3$

Using the divisibility rule of 3, we know that 117 is divisible by 3.

As both the numbers have the same signs, so positive sign will come with the quotient, i.e.

= $\dfrac{117}{3}$

= 39

Thus, the result of the division of 117 and 3 is 39.


Practice Problems

  1. Solve the following

  1. $\dfrac{(+8)}{(+4)}=$

  2. $\dfrac{(-9)}{(-3)}=$

  3. $\dfrac{(+84)}{(+4)}=$

  4. $\dfrac{(-49)}{(-7)}=$

Ans:

a. +2

b. +3

c. +21

d.+7


2. Fill in the blanks

  1. 296 ÷ ……………. = -148

  2. -88 ÷ ……………. = 11

  3. 84 ÷ ……………. = 12

  4. ……………. ÷ -5 = 25

Ans:

a. -2

b. -8

c. 7

d. -125


Summary

In this article, we reviewed the definition of dividing integers and then used examples to clarify how to divide integers. It's going to be easier to quickly solve the questions with the help of the learned rules and properties. The above writing explains deeply what is the rule for dividing integers. There are two rules for dividing integers. The result will be positive if both of the integers are negative or positive and the result will be negative if one integer is positive and the other is negative. Solved Examples of Dividing Integers and practice questions that have been provided in this article will help you in understanding how to divide integers.

FAQs on Division Of Integers Explained With Rules and Examples

1. What is division of integers?

The division of integers is the process of finding how many times one integer is contained in another integer. It involves dividing a dividend by a divisor to get a quotient, and sometimes a remainder.

  • Dividend ÷ Divisor = Quotient
  • If not exact, Dividend = (Divisor × Quotient) + Remainder
  • Example: 12 ÷ 3 = 4
This concept is fundamental in arithmetic and number operations with positive and negative integers.

2. What are the rules for division of integers with signs?

The sign rules for division of integers determine whether the quotient is positive or negative.

  • Positive ÷ Positive = Positive
  • Negative ÷ Negative = Positive
  • Positive ÷ Negative = Negative
  • Negative ÷ Positive = Negative
Example: (-15) ÷ 3 = -5, and (-20) ÷ (-4) = 5. Always divide the numbers normally, then apply the sign rule.

3. How do you divide integers step by step?

To divide integers, divide their absolute values first and then apply the correct sign based on the sign rules.

  • Step 1: Ignore the signs and divide the numbers.
  • Step 2: Determine the sign using sign rules.
  • Step 3: Write the final answer with the correct sign.
Example: (-24) ÷ 6 → 24 ÷ 6 = 4, signs are different, so answer is -4.

4. What is the formula for division of integers?

The standard formula for division of integers is Dividend = (Divisor × Quotient) + Remainder. This is also known as the division algorithm.

  • Example: 17 ÷ 5
  • 17 = (5 × 3) + 2
  • Quotient = 3, Remainder = 2
This formula works for both positive and negative integers.

5. Can you divide an integer by zero?

No, division by zero is undefined in mathematics. Any integer divided by zero does not produce a meaningful result.

  • Example: 5 ÷ 0 is undefined
  • Reason: There is no number that can be multiplied by 0 to give 5
However, 0 ÷ 5 = 0, because 0 divided by any non-zero integer equals zero.

6. What is the difference between integer division and regular division?

The difference is that integer division gives only the whole number quotient, while regular division may give decimals or fractions.

  • Integer division: 7 ÷ 3 = 2 (remainder 1)
  • Regular division: 7 ÷ 3 = 2.33...
Integer division is commonly used in programming and discrete mathematics where only whole numbers are needed.

7. What happens when you divide a negative integer by a positive integer?

When you divide a negative integer by a positive integer, the result is always negative. This follows the sign rules for division.

  • Example: (-18) ÷ 3 = 18 ÷ 3 = 6
  • Since the signs are different, the result is -6
This rule applies to all integer division problems involving opposite signs.

8. Is division of integers commutative?

No, division of integers is not commutative, which means changing the order changes the result.

  • Example: 8 ÷ 4 = 2
  • But 4 ÷ 8 = 0.5
Since 8 ÷ 4 ≠ 4 ÷ 8, division does not satisfy the commutative property.

9. Is division of integers associative?

No, division of integers is not associative, meaning grouping changes the result.

  • Example: (16 ÷ 4) ÷ 2 = 4 ÷ 2 = 2
  • But 16 ÷ (4 ÷ 2) = 16 ÷ 2 = 8
Since the two results are different, division does not follow the associative property.

10. Can you give an example of division of integers with remainder?

An example of division of integers with remainder is when the dividend is not exactly divisible by the divisor.

  • Example: 29 ÷ 4
  • 4 × 7 = 28
  • Remainder = 29 − 28 = 1
So, 29 ÷ 4 = 7 remainder 1, and it can be written using the division algorithm as 29 = (4 × 7) + 1.