Question

How do you simplify \[48\div (-3)\]?

Answer 1

Hint: We are given a mathematical statement which we have to simplify. We will first find if the numerator is divisible by the denominator or not and we see that it is divisible. So, we will reduce the fraction in the simplest possible form. The negative sign remains intact. Hence, we have the simplified form of the given expression.

Complete step by step solution:
According to the given question, we are provided with a mathematical statement. And we have to simplify the expression further.
We will begin by writing the statement as a mathematical expression, and so we have it as,
\[\dfrac{48}{-3}\]
We have to simplify the above expression, for that we will first check if the numerator is divisible by the denominator. If it is not divisible then, the above expression is good as the simplified expression or form.
To check if a number is divisible by 3, we add up the digits of that number and check if the result is divisible by 3. If it is divisible by 3 then, the number is also divisible by 3.
We have,
\[48\Rightarrow 4+8=12\]
And 12 is divisible by 3, that means that 48 is divisible by 3.
So, we will straightaway reduce the fraction in the simplest form possible.
The negative sign in the fraction is predominantly appearing with the denominator, but we can also write it as,
\[\Rightarrow \dfrac{48}{-3}=-\dfrac{48}{3}\]
Next, we will reduce the fraction and we have,
\[\Rightarrow -\dfrac{48}{3}=-\dfrac{16}{1}\]
\[\Rightarrow -16\]
Therefore, the simplified form of the given expression is \[-16\].

Note: The fraction should always be reduced step wise. Also, the negative must not be forgotten or wrongly placed, else the answer will get wrong.