Alg1 - 0.1 Multiply and Dividing Negative Numbers

There's a simple rule to follow when multiplying negative numbers:

1. Multiply the absolute values (forget the signs for now):

Treat the problem like you're multiplying regular numbers (without the negative signs).
Find the product as you would normally.

2. Apply the sign based on the original numbers:

If both original numbers were negative (both had minus signs), the product is positive.
If one number was negative and the other positive, the product is negative.

Here are some examples to illustrate:

Example 1: -3 x 5
Multiply the absolute values: 3 x 5 = 15
Both original numbers are negative, so the product is positive.
Therefore, -3 x 5 = 15
Example 2: -2 x -4
Multiply the absolute values: 2 x 4 = 8
Both original numbers are negative, so the product is positive.
Therefore, -2 x -4 = 8
Example 3: 7 x -6
Multiply the absolute values: 7 x 6 = 42
One number is negative (-6) and the other is positive (7), so the product is negative.
Therefore, 7 x -6 = -42

Remember:

You can think of multiplying a negative sign as "flipping" the positive sign. If you multiply an odd number of negative signs, the result is negative. An even number of negative signs flips to positive.

Recent Posts