Essential Understanding Rules for dividing real numbers are related to the rules for multiplying real numbers.

For any real numbers a, b, and c where a ≠ 0 , eh not equal to 0 comma  if a · b = c , eh middle dot b equals c comma  then b = c ÷ a . b equals c divides eh .  For instance, − 8 ( − 2 ) = 16 , negative 8 open negative 2 close equals 16 comma  so − 2 = 16 ÷ ( − 8 ) . negative 2 equals 16 divides open negative 8 close .  Similarly − 8 ( 2 ) = − 16 , negative 8 open 2 close equals negative 16 comma  so 2 = − 16 ÷ ( − 8 ) . 2 equals negative 16 divides open negative 8 close .  These examples illustrate the following rules.

The Inverse Property of Multiplication describes the relationship between a number and its multiplicative inverse.

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