[tex]\qquad\qquad\huge\underline{\boxed{\sf Answer}}[/tex]
The sign of a will be negative ~
let the value of be be ' -x ' , -x is a negative number (b = -x < 0)
[tex]\qquad \sf \dashrightarrow \: a \times \frac{ - b}{b} [/tex]
[tex]\qquad \sf \dashrightarrow \: a \times \frac{ - ( - x)}{ - x} [/tex]
[tex]\qquad \sf \dashrightarrow \: a \times \frac{ x}{ - x} [/tex]
[tex]\qquad \sf \dashrightarrow \: a \times \frac{ - x}{ x} [/tex]
[tex]\qquad \sf \dashrightarrow \:a \times - 1[/tex]
[tex] \qquad \sf \dashrightarrow \:- a[/tex]
Therefore, the term a, has a negative sign unless it's value is substituted, I.e -a = 0 ( having no sign )