document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=1079059>Question 1079059</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> When I solve -(-2)/(2(-1/3)) I get -1/3 but my book and several online calculators all say -3. The only way to get -3 is to not use a reciprocal for the last step but that goes against the rules of division.  Which is correct -2/2/3=(-2/2)(1/3) or -2/2/3=(-2/2)(3/1) ?<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Aren't I supposed to multiply by the reciprocal when dividing fractions like in -2/2/3? </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #693411 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=Boreal><B>Boreal(15235)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=Boreal><IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/aboutme-small.gif BORDER=0 alt=\"About Me\" VALIGN=MIDDLE></A>&nbsp;<IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/cgi-bin/show-face.mpl?user=Boreal><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=693411\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> That is 2/-(2/3)=-3<BR>\n" );
document.write( "The parentheses matter.  You can cancel the numerator and denominator +2, and you then have 1/(-1/3), and that is -3.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "The numerator is clearly +2<BR>\n" );
document.write( "the denominator is 2*-1/3=-2/3<BR>\n" );
document.write( "When you divide, you take the reciprocal of the denominator and multiply.<BR>\n" );
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