How does the negative sign distribution work? Does it work on fractions too?

Answer 1

Fractions are considered a unit unto themselves.This means that if you multiply or divide by a negative number, you apply the negative sign to the whole, not to the numerator and denominator individually.

Example:

¹/₂ * -1 = - ¹/₂

Now, what happens if you have a fraction that has a negative in the numerator and denominator? Remember that fractions are at their heart just division problems, and if you multiply or divide a negative by a negative, you get a positive:

^-2/_-3

is the same as

-2 ÷ -3 = ²/₃