Why Is A Negative Times A Negative A Positive
Olivia Luz
Why a negative times a negative is a positive.
Let s think about a multiplication equation as a person walking right or left on a number line. A times 0 0 and a left b c right ab ac. The precise logical argument as to why negative times negative should be positive once we agree that 2 times left 3 right 6 via repeated addition and left 3 right times 2 6 via a belief in commutativity that negative times negative is positive is a forced logical consequence of these next two basic beliefs of arithmetic. The point is that a negative times a negative is a positive because if we agree that we like the other rules then this rule is a necessary consequence.
One step equations with negatives multiply divide multiplying negative numbers review. From this we can show that ab and ab have opposite signs and therefore that a positive times a negative is a negative. The fact that a negative times a negative equals a positive can be proven mathematically using algebraic manipulation. The proof is as follows.
Using the fact multiplication is commutative a negative times a positive is also negative. Dividing negative numbers review. Specifically it can be proven using the equation x a b a b a b where a and b are any positive numbers and x is unknown via factoring and reducing the expression. This is the currently selected item.
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