Determine the Sign of 5 × (-1/2): Multiplication with Negative Fractions

Because you're multiplying a positive number (5) by a negative fraction (-1/2). The sign rule says: positive × negative = negative, so the result must be negative.

No! Whether you write $-\frac{1}{2}$, $\frac{-1}{2}$, or $\frac{1}{-2}$, they all mean the same negative fraction. The result will always be negative.

Use this simple pattern:

• Same signs: positive × positive = positive, negative × negative = positive
• Different signs: positive × negative = negative, negative × positive = negative

No! You only need to look at the signs. Since 5 is positive and $-\frac{1}{2}$ is negative, the result must be negative regardless of the numbers.

Count all the negative signs! An even number of negatives gives a positive result, while an odd number gives a negative result. Here we have just one negative, so the answer is negative.