Multiplying and Dividing Signed Numbers

To help remember the rules for multiplying and dividing signed numbers, we went back to the story of Little Red Riding Hood.

When Grandma was thinking about her granddaughter coming for a visit, that was a good thing for a good person, and we thought of that as good. (positive and positive made a positive)

But when Mr. Big Bad Wolf broke into Grandma's house, stole her cap and nightgown, and threw her in the closet that was a bad thing happening to a good person, and that was bad. (negative and positive make a negative)

While the wolf was lying in Grandma's bed drooling while thinking about how delicious Red was going to be, that was a good thing for a bad character, and that was also bad. (positive and negative make a negative)

Finally, when Red was tougher than the Wolf imagined and was given the beating he well deserved, it showed a bad thing happening to a bad character, and we think of that as a good thing. (negative and negative make a positive.)
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In mathematical language - When multiplying or dividing signed numbers:
* If the signs are the same (+ and + or - and -), the answer will be positive;
* If the signs are different (+ and - or - and +), the answer will be negative.